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Finding a Design Pattern With Retractable Awnings

October 14th, 2011

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Finding a Design Pattern With Retractable Awnings

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Home Page > Home and Family > Accessories > Finding a Design Pattern With Retractable Awnings

Finding a Design Pattern With Retractable Awnings

Posted: Sep 12, 2008 |Comments: 0
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Modern design tries to merge pure function with something pleasing and pleasant, something beautiful. Ultimately, modern design fuses those concepts by stripping away embellishment so that the function is its own beauty. One definition calls minimalism the extreme simplification of form. Another common word is reduce, to bring something to its barest essence.

A seminal work in functional planning, A Pattern Language, emphasizes understanding completely how a building or space will be used in order to create natural movement that direction. Retractable awnings are an area where function really defines both style and efficiency in a natural pattern:

· Alternating light and shadow

· Warm color and filtered lights

· Juxtaposing soft and hard materials

Aesthetic efficiency is pervasive in all aspects of building design: architecture, interior design, and landscaping. And in all three areas, retractable awnings have a role.

Planning at the Beginning

Modern building designs have several key features:

· Highlighting the frame (outline) by removing elaborate trimming

· Unobstructed spaces

· Using light and shadow to add interest and definition to spaces

Retractable awnings are valuable tools for contractors and architects because they inherently capture minimalist style. Retractable awning frames are unpretentious and smooth lined. Retractable awnings have no stanchions, so there is no obstruction to any view. Space remains open, which is fundamental to wide windows or solid glass displays in residential and commercial spaces. Retractable awnings deliver arresting visual impact, with minimal effort, by adding interesting angles to the building facade and through dramatic color, but without frills.

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Awnings also provide a simple, green way to control heat gain (lowering energy costs), ultraviolet rays (UV), and glare. Light is extremely important; people naturally gravitate toward light areas. Many areas – breakfast nooks, offices, retail displays, master bedrooms – use starkly large windows as central features because of the attraction of light. Retractable awnings allow that brightness while mitigating the harsh glare of sunlight and UV rays.

Cooling those spaces (anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees) makes them more usable throughout the day and across seasons. With heat control, developers can change the direction of a room to face south or west or to introduce elements like floor-to-ceiling windows.

Carrying Outdoors In

Filtered light describes how the light spreads through a room. Retractable awnings stimulate natural light to augment the effect of a room by diffusing the light with color. Bright retractable awning fabrics diffuse warm tones such as yellow or orange, emphasizing the coziness and appeal of light; this creates native interest and pathways.

As a byproduct of controlling ambient light, retractable awnings unify indoor and outdoors areas. The connection is obvious with rooms which share function with the outdoors, such as sunrooms or mudrooms. The retractable awning, then, can be designed as an extension of the interior decor, using similar colors, details, or frame styles.

Employing retractable awnings can establish continuity in areas where the connection between inside and out is less definite. As filtered light indoors attracts people, creating shadows promotes instinctive movement inside. Thus, retractable awnings over porches and entryways cause a gentle transition indoors.

Part of the Landscape

Retractable awnings have a unique interplay between buildings and nature. Some design theories hold that the gentle motion and suppleness of the fabric in awnings are a foil for hard construction materials, so they segue from the rigid building to the natural movement of outdoors.

This motion of retractable awnings engages senses – sound, touch, sight – and heighten the exterior experience of a home. According to A Pattern Language, the beauty of sensation is awnings’ most vital contribution.

In gardens, retractable awnings provide a seamless boundary for sitting areas, while providing functional glare and heat protection. They also maintain balance for plants by shading plants from harsh sun, retarding weed growth, and lessening evaporation, making low-water gardening (xeriscaping) more effective.

Designing in Green

Design minimalism echoes a small environmental footprint. Incorporating retractable awnings into designs at the earliest planning stages brings that environmental minimalist to the heart of the space, whether it’s through energy savings in southern rooms or artful xeriscaping in dry climates. Retractable awnings can be an integral part of ecologically minimalist residential and commercial designs, from blueprints to furnishings.

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Eric Scop -
About the Author:

Retractable Awnings offers quality awnings and patio covers, which are both reliable and easy to use .http://www.retractableawnings.com

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Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accessories-articles/finding-a-design-pattern-with-retractable-awnings-559834.html

Article Tags:
awnings, patio covers, awning, retractable awnings, retractable awning, window awnings, patio awnings, canvas awnings, deck awnings, commercial awnings

How To Choose Awnings For Your Home or Business

September 8th, 2010

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Before, awnings just served as protection from the sun and rain for houses. But now, awnings are included as part of a house’s or building’s architecture not only for its primary purpose, but also to add charm and create a statement.

If you are still unconvinced about the architectural beauty of awnings, you might want to have them installed for the following reasons:

* It protects the window frames from the rain, sun and snow. Most window frames and windowpanes are made of wood. We all know how wood responds to environmental changes. Even with sufficient wood coating and polish, wood deteriorates faster when exposed to the harshness of the weather conditions.

* Your house may have a porch or a patio and you have some furniture there, where you relax as you read a book or have a cup of coffee with your friends. Such furniture, regardless of the material, wears out faster when exposed to the sun and rain.

* When it’s raining, you normally keep your windows shut, blocking fresh air from coming in through the windows. If your house has awnings, during rain showers, you can keep your windows open and still prevent rainwater from getting in.

* When you are watching TV or using the computer, you usually have the windows shut, or the curtains or blinds down to reduce the glare. If awnings were fitted, you wouldn’t need to block natural light from the rest of the room since the awnings will reduce the glare on the monitors positioned near the windows.

* A major effect of having awnings, according to a study, is that it can reduce summer heat increase by 65% for windows facing south, and 77% for windows facing east and west.

So if you are now convinced that you would like your house or your building to have awnings, don’t just go out there and get one. There are things that you need to consider.

* Material

The most commonly used materials for awnings are outdoor fabric and aluminum. Those made of outdoor fabric come in a variety of color and shapes; however, these require more maintenance than aluminum ones.

Those made of aluminum are sturdy and require less maintenance. These awnings, however, have limited design and color options.

* Angle

It is recommended that for windows facing east or west, the size of the drop should be 65-75% for the best efficiency. For a window facing south, the drop can just be 45-60% since less coverage is needed, as the sun has a higher angle from this direction.

* Side panels

Side panels may alter the architectural feel of the awnings. Side panels are also beneficial in adding coverage in a different direction.

* Stationary, Retractable or Freestanding

Roll-up and retractable awnings allow you to permit the sun to shine into the house during winter.

Retractable awnings are also good for patios or decks. These awnings have a mechanism that allows it to be extended as far as necessary.

Retractable awnings can also have motors and switches for ease in retraction. Some also have sun and wind sensors to automate the retraction.

Retractable awnings are not for heavy rains, high winds and snow, though. So make sure these are properly protected from such weather conditions.

Freestanding awnings may also be used for patios, decks or terraces. Business establishments, as these also double as an advertisement, usually use these.

* Size

Small awnings are used for their decorative effect. If you would like to maximize the protective function of awnings, choose the bigger ones.

* Style

The most popular styles are traditional with closed sides, traditional with open sides, dome style, double bar standard, waterfall, quarter barrel, gable walkway and semi-circular entrance.

To check the most applicable style for your house design and the direction of your windows, consult an architect.

* Color

Apart from considering what color goes well with your house or establishment, if possible, choose a light-colored awning since it does not only block direct sunlight light other awnings, but this also reflects sunlight. By doing so, it lessens the amount of heat that comes in.

Also to minimize the heat that comes into the house, make sure that there is a gap between the side of the house and the top of the awning to prevent the heat on the awning to be transferred to the house.

Keep these tips in mind when consulting your architect while designing your house or business establishment.

For more great awning information and resources check out:

http://www.justawnings.info

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