These Towers Have Shape-Shifting Sunshades That React To Sunlight

These beautiful twin office towers in Abu Dhabi borrow ancient Arabic architectural elements to create an innovative way to shield themselves from sunlight. The two buildings are overlaid by a mechanized geometric “skin” with triangular panels that follow the sun to block it out.

The sunscreen design by Aedas Architects was inspired by the masharabiya, a beautiful form of ornate sunscreen that shields windows in the Arab world from glaring sunlight and prying eyes. The 145m-tall towers underneath, completed in 2012, are covered in glass, so the sunscreens reduce sunlight-generated heat in the building by at least 50% and probably help with the air conditioning bill as well! Open, close, and even travel horizontally to block the sun. Computers control the screens.

More info: aedas.com | (H/T)

Image credits: Ben Job

Image credits: Aedas

Image credits: Christian Richters

Image credits: Reuters

Image credits: Daniel Erne

Image credits: Daniel Erne

Image credits: unknown

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