4.8 Movable louvres for a school in Kathmandu, Nepal

Design: P. Gut

The climatic conditions in Kathmandu (see Chapter 4.6) with warm summers and cool but sunny winters suggest itself, to improve the indoor climate by simple means of solar radiation control.

For this purpose, a simple system of movable metal louvres has ben designed in such a way, that local mechanical workshops can easily manufacture it, thus expensive, imported parts are not required.

The louvres can be operated through the open window by simply shifting a metal bar linkage. The louvres can be arrested in two positions, for summer and winter. The winter position allows to enter the solar radiation unhindered, whereas the summer position shades the window completely.

Because the climate in Kathmandu is regular, it is assumed, that the louvres have not to be moved often, but not much more than once in spring and once in fall.

So far, the performance of this system could not be monitored, because the buildings are (in 1992) still under construction.

Fig 4/35 Summer and winter position

Fig 4/36 Mounting support, isometric view