Fixed perforated panels
Repeatable aluminium panels on a drained subframe. The most robust route for consistent shade, privacy and a clear pattern language.
System 07 · Shade, privacy and regional identity
Mashrabiya Facades
A modern Mashrabiya works hardest when pattern, solar geometry, privacy and the supporting facade are developed as one architectural layer.
The pattern is visible. The engineering behind it should be quieter.
The traditional Mashrabiya filtered sun, views and air long before passive design became a technical discipline. A contemporary screen can carry the same intelligence, but its openness, depth, panel size and support system must answer a real elevation rather than a decorative sample.
We develop the screen from orientation and sightlines outward. West-facing rooms may need deeper or denser geometry; a garden elevation may open toward the view; a coastal site may change the coating, fixings and access detail. The base curtain wall continues to manage weather while the outer layer moderates light and gives the building identity.
System concept visualization · final appearance and engineering are project-specific.
Configuration choices
Different briefs need different assemblies.
The family name is only the beginning. Geometry, exposure, operation and maintenance decide the buildable version.
Deep or folded screens
Three-dimensional panels, fins or folded modules that create stronger self-shading and a more pronounced play of light.
Operable screen or louvre
Moving panels or louvres where the brief justifies controls, hardware, wind logic and a long-term maintenance plan.
Performance story
What the engineering must resolve.
Solar geometry
Pattern openness and depth are studied by orientation instead of repeated unchanged around the building.
Privacy & view
Mock-ups test what is visible from the street and what remains legible from the room behind.
Structure & access
Wind loads, panel movement, fixings, drainage and glass-cleaning routes shape the module.
| Design decision | How it is specified | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Screen material | Aluminium sheet, folded panel, extrusion or project-specific combination | A lightweight, durable layer can share finishes with the main facade package. |
| Pattern openness | Set by solar, privacy and view studies | The motif becomes a performance decision as well as a visual one. |
| Subframe | Drained and ventilated support engineered for panel and wind loads | The outer layer shades the glass without trapping water or relying on the glass frame. |
| Finish & fixings | Selected for UV, abrasion and inland or coastal exposure | Colour retention and corrosion resistance are matched to the project environment. |
| Access | Hinged, removable or zoned access where required | The glass and screen can be inspected and cleaned without dismantling the whole elevation. |
Specifications are established from project loads, climate, geometry and local requirements. Quotation documents identify the selected build-up and applicable evidence.
System pairings
Most envelopes need more than one system.
These related systems are commonly coordinated at the same interfaces, helping the facade read and perform as one package.
Minimal glass
Structural Glazing
A restrained glass plane lets the patterned outer layer read as the main architectural texture.
Flexible base
Stick Curtain Wall
A stick grid offers economical support and adjustment for one-off screen geometries.
Night layer
Luminous Facade
Concealed backlighting can reveal depth and pattern without surface-mounted fixtures.
Frequently asked questions
Before the first detail is drawn.
Is Mashrabiya only a decorative facade treatment?
No. When properly developed, it can reduce direct solar exposure, control glare and privacy, and protect the glass behind. Decoration and performance should come from the same geometry.
How open should a Mashrabiya screen be?
There is no universal ratio. Orientation, room use, sightlines, panel depth and the glass behind determine the right openness for each elevation.
Can Mashrabiya panels move?
Yes, but operable systems add controls, hardware, wind restrictions and maintenance. We recommend movement only when it creates measurable value beyond a well-designed fixed screen.
Related project records
See the system in building context.
Designing a screen for a real elevation?
Send the orientation, room uses and privacy brief. We will turn the pattern into a buildable shading layer.
