Texlon®'s multi-layered construction can be exploited to allow intelligent control of solar energy.

Vector Foiltec can create climatic envelopes that sense their environments and change their insulation and solar transmission as required.

By printing overlapping gestalt graphics on multiple layers, and integrating the cushions with sophisticated pneumatics, we can move the different graphics together and apart from each other. This enables us to vary the amount of light and solar energy penetrating the building and the visual appearance of the envelope.

Not only can this phenomenon be exploited to control the amount of solar transmission through the envelope, it can also be used to vary the number of air chambers within a cushion, thereby changing its insulation.

These unique properties enable designers to create buildings that are energy efficient, cost effective and visually responsive to changing climatic conditions.

Pictures on the right

Open
Solar and temperature sensors cause the upper air chamber to be pressurised allowing light to penetrate through the gestalt graphics.

Closed
As internal temperatures and solar gains increase the lower air chamber is pressurised reducing the level of light and solar gain penetrating the space