Solar Screens

Project Completed in the years 2021-2023 as an individual project with instructor Robert Parker at Sabin Schellenberg Technical Campus North Campus

Solar Screen

0.9.30.2021

Aaron Lopez Hernandez

Project Overview

Client, Size, Constraints, and Criteria

We were contacted to make solar screens for a patio during the summer at a modest home across a city park. The neighborhood tends to be very sunny, and they wanted me to provide enough shade to significantly reduce the heat of the summer sun while also allowing enough filtered light into the space and entertainment space.

The solar screen needs to block between 30% and 60% of the sunlight. Need to have a 6-inch band around the perimeter of the solar screen. The screen must also support its own weight and must be structurally sound. Most importantly, all the screens must be BEAUTIFUL.

Generating Concepts

Research

Inspiration for the Design

These are the images used that inspired my design throughout my whole project. There is a range of abstract shapes, such as leaves, flowers, and a simple pattern of green circles overlapping each other.

Generating Sketches

Sketch 1

I selected my design by finding a design that was visually interesting and beautiful.

The curves from the shapes allow movement through the design. Anywhere you look, the design seems to bring you from one side of the sketch by using thick lines that emphasize the big flowers and rhythm for the leaves. Point element is used within the small circles inside the flowers. There is a great proportion between all the leaves, stems, and big flowers. Asymmetric lines give an asymmetric balance.

Sketch 2

How I selected this design was by searching for interesting shapes that we see repeated throughout our whole life, over and over again.

This uses irregular rhythm by using the same shapes over and over again, but just a different size and in random locations. Repetition is achieved by using the same shapes and a good balance of space between shapes and size. Rhythm is given to the rectangles at the edge of the perimeter of the drawing. Points are used as circles, lines are used to make squares, triangles, and rectangles.

Constructing a Prototype

Testing a scaled physical prototype to make sure the solar screen stayed intact while blocking between 30-60% of the sunlight with a 6-inch perimeter border.

First Prototype

The reason why I chose this design was due to inspired nature and calmness. By reminding me that nature is beautiful.

This Pattern has Repetitive Shapes, points, lines, and forms. The cutout of the design ensures how much sunlight will be blocked. In this case, white is the sunlight that is getting blocked. Through these designs, I tried to use simpler shapes and take up most of the space.

Second Prototype

The reason why I chose this design was that it inspired me with shapes we see every day in our lives.

This pattern has repetitive shapes, points, lines, and forms. The cutout of the design was essential to determine how much sunlight would be blocked. In these designs, I tried to use simpler shapes and take up as much space as possible. The reason for this is because of my inspiration from the shapes we see every day in our lives.

Evaluating Design

Transforming from a prototype to a solar study

First Solar Study

Hurdles

Hurdles that I faced while making my design included: software problems by transforming my prototype into a solar study, especially curved lines turned into a problem. Another problem I faced was not meeting the requirements of the shade percentage, and I had to modify many of the designs by adding more shapes to meet the criteria.

Second Solar Study

Improvements

Changes to the design. Some improvements or changes that I added through the prototype process were that I added more shapes to the flower pattern because it didn't meet the requirement.

Third Solar Study

Present Solution

Solar Screen Scaled Models

My scaled model turned out very different from my prototype model. The prototype model, for the most part, did not meet the criteria. The scaled model meets every single aspect, including the 6-inch border blocking between 30-60% of sunlight. Design is structurally sound, and most importantly, beautiful. My first scaled model represents nature, while my second scaled model represents shapes we see in our everyday lives. Overall, both solar screens have very interesting shadows and shapes.

First Scale Model

Second Scale Model

Project Description:

The University of Oregon requested for a new solar shading system for the south of the Jaqua Center building. The south facing facade receives to much heat in form of solar radiation. I was tasked to design a panelized metal solar screen that mounts to the existing south facing faced.

Criteria & Constraints

The design must be structurally sound, visually interesting, and provide enough shading to keep the building cool. The panel must also block between thirty and fifty percent of the available sunlight, there must also be a two inch solid border, and must be visually appealing.

Analysis:

With the design, all the Criteria were met to satisfy the University of Oregon project for the Jaqua Center. The total amount of sunlight blocked is 49%. This design will minimize sunlight radiation while still being visually interesting due to its interesting shapes. Adobe Illustrator was used to count the total amount of pixels that were blocked.

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