spoiled view at LHR - why? Security? Architect ideas?

MuffinsDa

I regularly travel on Dublin-London route these days and normally travel through LCY as it's much quicker to get in an out despite being a sh1thole!

This time they booked me on EI and I was travelling via LHR. I went to EI Lounge in T2 which is in a very nice location parallel to one of the runways. The view is however somehow spoiled by these metal bars as seen in attached pic. I was just wondering, what's the purpose of them? Security? I can't think of a reason how that could be the case... or is it just architects trying to be smart?

In contrast the view from Are Lingus Lounge in Dublin is completely unrestricted.

I'm not complaining - I am aware this is a first world problem! I am just curious why they put those ghastly bars there.

Danbo!

They could* be sun louvres which prevent direct sunlight into the terminal building, making it cheaper to cool and therfore more energy efficient. These allow daylight and the cooler morning/evening/winter sun in, but not during the warmer hours/seasons, and are usually on the East, South and West faces of buildings.

You usually see these on larger glazed buildings. In new buildings, some even move to track the sun for optimum performance.

*I say could, because usually they are wider in cross-section and therefore spaced further apart - like T2 in DUB

MuffinsDa

That makes sense, especially in a day like today - it was 34 C in London today.

But if they are fixed then would they not have the opposite effect in winter and increase the cost of heating the place?

jimbis

These really annoy me when they are so small and in multiples like the op's. Either put a window in or don't.
Or at least leave say a 1ft gap at the average head height so we don't all get vertigo trying to look out and keep ourselves entertained while we wait. It wouldn't let in that much sun.

Danbo!

MuffinsDa wrote: »

That makes sense, especially in a day like today - it was 34 C in London today.

But if they are fixed then would they not have the opposite effect in winter and increase the cost of heating the place?

Sun in winter is lower and therefore can shine through the gaps.

http://www.fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/CD3WD/CONSTRUC/SK02CE/GIF/P267.GIF

xper

Danbo! wrote: »

They could* be sun louvres which prevent direct sunlight into the terminal building, making it cheaper to cool and therfore more energy efficient. These allow daylight and the cooler morning/evening/winter sun in, but not during the warmer hours/seasons, and are usually on the East, South and West faces of buildings.

In this case, as they are apron- and runway-facing windows, reducing the sunlight reflecting into the eyes of pilots and ground vehicle operators my also have been a consideration.

arubex

Yes, temperature control:

Terminal 2 will not overheat in the sunshine. The glazed facade incorporates solar controlled glass and angled louvres, while an overhanging roof shades the south-facing windows.

Possibly also reduces radar reflections, as the lounges would act as big corner-reflectors otherwise. The BA headquarters building ( Waterside ) was designed to be 'stealthy' for that reason.

Anyway passengers are supposed to be in the shops spending money, not showing an interest in aircraft

Tefral

Having worked on design teams building both Pier D in Dublin Airport and also Terminal 4 and 5 in Heathrow: They are there to stop solar gain and reduce instances of radar reflectivity in certain areas (typically you will see these as long angled fins. The windows are also coated with a film to reflect back out sunlight also but these Louvre's.

Airport terminals are like giant greenhouses. Couple that with the heat from passengers, computers, electrical equipment, the aircon costs are huge, so anyway they can offset this they try.

If your interested, companies like Architectural Aluminium provide most of the cladding for these buildings, they would probably send you fact sheets on them if you asked.

Tow

It helps reduce light reflections from the glass buildings. Which can cause problems if they happen to be focused on one point and that point happens to be made from carbon fiber.