Brise soleil, sometimes brise-soleil (French:[bʁizsɔlɛj]; lit.'"sun breaker"'), is an architectural feature of a building that reduces heat gain within that building by deflectingsunlight.[1] The system allows low-level sun to enter a building in the mornings, evenings and during winter but cuts out direct light during summer.[2]
In the typical form, a horizontal projection extends from the sunside facade of a building. This is most commonly used to prevent facades with a large amount of glass from overheating during the summer. Often louvers are incorporated into the shade to prevent the high-angle summer sun falling on the facade, but also to allow the low-angle winter sun to provide some passive solar heating.[6]