The modern, fifteen-story-tall tower of the Ministry of Education and Health in Rio de Janeiro was one of the first glass-enclosed buildings to employ a brise-soleil, a solar shading system that resembles an egg crate. While the building’s south-facing elevation was designed as a fully transparent glass surface, its north facade was equipped with a grid of deep, horizontal louvers connected to manually operated levers. The Ministry’s workers could adjust the angle of these sun- blocking devices throughout the course of the day, preventing the interior from overheating and thus increasing the thermal comfort of their working space without having to rely on energy-consuming air conditioning.
Gallery label from 2021.