ABSTRACT
The thermal flue on the east and west elevations was designed to intercept solar gain with horizontal timber louvre blades that shade against direct sun, protecting the conditioned office space from direct solar insolation. The second skin not only protects the solar control devices, but can also be used to temper the internal environment. Internal cooling loads are reduced in the summer by natural ventilation of solar gain in the glazed cavity, and in the winter heating demand is reduced by the closure of the cavity, creating a thermal blanket around the conditioned interior.
