Slatted timber screens have grown in popularity over the last few years. Many tropical modern homes today seem to feature them prominently on the exterior façades.
They often protect large, glazed windows and doors or screen an outdoor space. But are they a fad or are there great benefits to incorporating slatted timber screens into your home?
Here are a few reasons why so many people are adding slatted timber screens to their tropical modern home.
1. Sun Shading
Recently we have been using more and more large, glazed openings in our homes. We are all about that spectacular view and opening up to the outdoors. It is a major feature of many contemporary homes today. This is a good thing.
But more glazed openings mean more places for direct sunlight to enter your home. That is not a good thing.
Having those huge bi-fold doors overlooking the beautiful west coast is awesome. That is until the evening sun starts to pour into your living room making it hot and unusable.
One of the primary functions of timber slatted screens in tropical homes is to provide sun shading.
For houses in the tropics, it is critical to keep them cool. Direct sunlight entering or impacting your home, increases the indoor temperature. Hence, it is a good idea to use strategies that reduce the amount of direct sunlight that enters your home. Slatted timber screens are a great way to do this while still allowing some natural light in.
The spacing and size of the slats are important. These factors can reduce or even eliminate the direct sunlight that impacts your home. Less sunlight enters when the spacing is closer and the slats are deeper.
Whether you install the slats horizontally or vertically will also determine their performance. Horizontal slats are more effective on the north and south-facing walls while east and west-facing openings may benefit more for vertical slats.
However, slatted screens will reduce some direct sunlight, regardless of the dimensions or orientation.
Photo: Grant Pitcher | The Reserve House | Metropole Architects
2. Privacy
Another drawback of large, glazed openings or any large openings in our homes is the lack of privacy they provide.
Installing large sliding doors or a huge picture window that looks out to the landscape may sound wonderful. However, this is not always ideal if the window or door can be seen from the street or a neighbour’s house.
Slatted screens can help create privacy in your home. They provide a partial or total visual barrier from persons who are outside.
Sizing and spacing will determine how much privacy they provide, like with sun shading.
Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan | P24 House | OFFICE AT Co., Ltd.
The spaces between the slats also allow visibility out.
In addition, the screens can be operable. Slatted screens can also have swinging, bi-folding or sliding mechanisms. Hence, they can move out of the way of your window or door opening when you require privacy or solar protection.
These screens can be a more architectural supplement or replacement to blinds and curtains. Clever placement and angles of the slats could also create privacy from one direction but views out to another.
They can also screen off an outdoor space like a patio or terrace.
3. Natural Ventilation
Adequate natural ventilation is a major factor for tropical homes. This is critical if you do not want to be reliant on the use of air conditioning.
Hence, when creating sun-shading or privacy screens for your window and door openings, it should not sacrifice natural ventilation.
Air can pass through the spaces between the slats. This will allow cooling breezes to continuously flow through your home.
4. Warm Natural Tones
Apart from the functional responses to the climate, one of the differences between Tropical Modern and Modern architecture is its use of warm tones from natural materials.
Modern architecture is known for its lack of adornment and ornamentation. They also tend to have uncomplicated material palettes.
Tropical modern architecture uses more natural materials. They make use of more regionally available materials as a response to their climate and environment. This includes natural stones and timber.
Celebrating the rich warm tones of dark tropical woods is customary in a tropical modern home. They contrast with the typical white or off-white walls. As a result, this often creates stunning looking homes.
Though you can incorporate wood in several ways, a slatted timber screen is an excellent way to introduce warm wood tones to the exterior of your home.
However, timber elements on the exterior of your home can be a bit more challenging to maintain. Slats may need refinishing more often than other materials. They are also more susceptible to wear and rot than other materials such as metal or concrete.
5. Straight Lines Of Light And Shadow
Photo: Rungkit Charoenwat | U38 House | OFFICE AT Co., Ltd.
The straight, clean lines of a slatted timber screen can create a strong architectural design statement for your home. Their linear rhythm can sometimes feel a bit decorative while still maintaining the clean aesthetic of a modern home in the tropics.
I know this point is starting to sound a bit more poetic. It may be crossing over into the realm of architectural mumbo jumbo.
However, the slits of daylight that is sometimes created from slatted screens can often form beautiful patterns across parts of your home. The movement of the light and shadow can often create a visual experience that is immersive and intriguing.
Conclusion
Slatted timber screens in tropical modern homes are popular. However, they also provide great benefits to your tropical home.
They offer shade from the sun while allowing natural ventilation. This is extremely important in ensuring your tropical home remains cool.
Privacy is also critical, especially when creating large window and door openings. Slatted timber screens can add privacy to your interior spaces while providing visibility to the outside.
The warm wooden tones and beautiful shadows the linear slats create also enhances the look and feel of your home.
Slatted timber screens are worth considering for your tropical modern home.
Feature image: Rungkit Charoenwat | Architects: OFFICE AT Co., Ltd.