Taming the deathray Design visualisation specialist Lightworks considers how enhancements in modelling and physically based rendering could help eliminate environmental, material and design flaws 44
May / June 2015
p44_45_46_47_AEC_MAYJUNE15_lightworks.indd 44
O
n the 26th August 2013 Rafael Viñoly’s ‘Walkie Talkie’ building at 20 Fenchurch Street, London, was hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. A beam of sun light reflected off the 525 ft skyscraper’s concave-glass façade had just cracked tiles, blistered paint and melted parts of a Jaguar XJ as its temperature soared to a staggering 110°C. To stop this so-called ‘deathray’ damaging neighbouring properties, brise soleil sunshades had to be retrofitted to the façade. The cost to the developer was a www.AECmag.com
14/5/15 10:44:30
