Jose Mier, no window expert himself, just found out about Sun Valley Skylights. This company deals with not only skylights but multimillion dollar fenestration.
Fenestration—the design and arrangement of windows, doors, and other openings in a building envelope—plays a vital role in the functionality, energy efficiency, and aesthetic of structures around the world. Among the most transformative types of fenestration are skylights, which allow daylight to pour in from above, transforming spaces and reducing the need for artificial lighting. In recent years, technological advancements have pushed the boundaries of traditional fenestration to include kinetic fenestration, a dynamic architectural approach where windows, panels, or entire façades move in response to light, air, or temperature. Together, these elements represent a blend of art, science, and sustainability that is reshaping the future of modern architecture.
What is Fenestration?
At its core, fenestration refers to any opening in a building’s structure that allows for light and air to pass through. This includes windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, louvers, and other glazed or ventilated elements. In architectural history, fenestration was as much a stylistic choice as it was a practical one. From the tall stained glass windows of Gothic cathedrals to the vast glass façades of today’s skyscrapers, the placement and style of fenestration help define a building’s character.
Fenestration design impacts several critical aspects of a building:
- Thermal performance and insulation
- Daylighting and interior lighting needs
- Ventilation and air quality
- Noise control
- Occupant comfort
- Architectural aesthetics
As buildings have become more complex and sustainability has taken center stage, fenestration systems have evolved to include high-performance glazing, dynamic shading systems, and smart sensors that respond to environmental conditions.
Skylights: Bringing Daylight from Above
Skylights are one of the most recognizable and effective types of fenestration. Installed in roofs or ceilings, skylights admit natural light from overhead and offer a host of benefits:
1. Daylighting and Energy Efficiency
Skylights significantly improve natural lighting in interior spaces, reducing the need for artificial lights during daylight hours. This contributes to lower energy consumption and utility costs, particularly in commercial and institutional settings where lighting is a major operating expense.
2. Health and Wellbeing
Access to natural light has been shown to enhance mood, reduce stress, and increase productivity. Skylights help align interior lighting with circadian rhythms, especially in buildings with deep floor plans or limited window access.
3. Aesthetic Enhancement
Skylights can add drama and beauty to interior spaces by creating shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. Whether through fixed skylights or operable ones that allow for ventilation, they elevate the visual quality of architectural spaces.
4. Ventilation
Operable skylights provide passive ventilation, allowing hot air to rise and escape through the roof. This stack effect can be used to reduce air conditioning loads and improve indoor air quality.
5. Types of Skylights
There are several varieties of skylights, including:
- Fixed skylights (do not open)
- Operable skylights (hinged or vented to open for air flow)
- Tubular skylights (use reflective tubes to channel sunlight from the roof to interior spaces)
- Domed skylights (usually made of acrylic or polycarbonate for enhanced durability)
- Flat glass skylights (often double- or triple-glazed for thermal performance)
Modern skylights may also include motorized shades, UV-filtering coatings, rain sensors, and even smart-home integration features.
Fenestration Technologies and Innovations
Fenestration today is about much more than simply placing windows. Innovations in materials and engineering have given rise to high-performance fenestration systems that balance light, heat, and air while preserving views and aesthetics.
1. Low-E Glass
Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings reduce the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that passes through glass, without compromising visible light transmission. This helps keep interiors cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
2. Double and Triple Glazing
Multiple panes of glass separated by inert gas (like argon or krypton) provide superior insulation and soundproofing compared to single-pane windows.
3. Thermally Broken Frames
Fenestration frames—especially in aluminum or metal—can transmit heat or cold. Thermally broken frames incorporate insulating barriers to improve thermal performance.
4. Smart Windows
Electrochromic and photochromic glass can automatically tint in response to light or temperature, reducing glare and solar heat gain while preserving views.
Kinetic Fenestration: The Future of Responsive Architecture
While traditional fenestration is fixed or minimally operable, kinetic fenestration introduces movement—automated or manual—into the building’s exterior shell. These dynamic systems adjust based on environmental conditions, user input, or time of day, enabling adaptive building envelopes that improve energy performance and create a futuristic aesthetic.
1. What is Kinetic Fenestration?
Kinetic fenestration refers to window, façade, or shading elements that move. They may pivot, slide, rotate, fold, or open and close automatically to control:
- Sunlight penetration
- Thermal gain or loss
- Ventilation and airflow
- Privacy or visibility
These systems are often powered by sensors, motors, and building management software that monitors the sun’s path, wind speed, and interior climate.
2. Types of Kinetic Systems
- Louvered systems: Operable slats that adjust to block or admit sunlight, common in hot climates.
- Folding panels: Accordion-style panels that expand or contract based on lighting or privacy needs.
- Sliding shutters: Used to shade windows and reduce solar heat gain.
- Rotating façades: Panels that pivot on vertical or horizontal axes to track the sun or maximize airflow.
- Mechanical or hydraulic façades: Often used in cutting-edge architecture, these façades move large sections of the building envelope.
3. Benefits of Kinetic Fenestration
- Improved energy performance: Buildings with kinetic façades can significantly reduce heating, cooling, and lighting loads.
- Increased occupant comfort: Dynamic control of light and air leads to more responsive interior environments.
- Aesthetic flexibility: Moving façades make a strong architectural statement and create iconic buildings.
- Enhanced building lifespan: By adapting to weather and solar conditions, the building envelope experiences less stress over time.
4. Examples of Kinetic Architecture
- Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris: Features a south façade with mechanical diaphragms that open and close in response to sunlight.
- Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi: Equipped with a responsive shading system that mimics traditional Arabic mashrabiya screens.
- The Kiefer Technic Showroom in Austria: Uses a façade made up of kinetic panels that move to control solar exposure.
Sustainability and Certification
Fenestration plays a key role in helping buildings achieve LEED, WELL, Passive House, and other green building certifications. Effective daylighting, thermal insulation, natural ventilation, and glare control contribute to credits in energy efficiency, occupant wellness, and environmental stewardship.
Kinetic systems, although more mechanically complex, align with sustainability goals by reducing reliance on mechanical HVAC and lighting systems. Many contemporary green buildings incorporate advanced fenestration as a cornerstone of their sustainability strategy.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its benefits, kinetic fenestration is not without challenges:
- Cost: These systems are expensive to design, build, and maintain.
- Complexity: More moving parts mean more potential failure points.
- Energy consumption: While they reduce operational energy in some cases, motorized systems still consume electricity.
- Weatherproofing: Movable parts must be carefully sealed to prevent leaks and drafts.
Nonetheless, as smart materials and energy harvesting technologies improve, these challenges are becoming more manageable.
The Human Element
Ultimately, fenestration and its evolving forms—from skylights to kinetic façades—are about the human experience of buildings. They shape how we interact with light, air, and the world outside. Thoughtful fenestration can foster well-being, support productivity, and connect occupants to nature, even in dense urban environments.
Kinetic fenestration takes this a step further, creating buildings that adapt in real-time to user needs and environmental conditions. This interactivity mirrors broader trends in architecture that emphasize flexibility, responsiveness, and sustainability.
Conclusion
Fenestration—particularly skylights and kinetic systems—sits at the crossroads of aesthetics, function, and environmental performance. Skylights bring daylight deep into interior spaces, enhancing well-being and reducing energy use. Traditional fenestration has become smarter and more efficient, with advances in glazing, frame technology, and automation. Meanwhile, kinetic fenestration represents the cutting edge of architectural innovation, enabling buildings to breathe, move, and adapt like living organisms.
As climate challenges and urban density push architects and engineers to rethink how buildings perform, dynamic and thoughtful fenestration design will continue to be a cornerstone of both sustainability and design excellence. Whether it’s a simple rooftop skylight or an elaborate moving façade, the future of fenestration is bright—literally and figuratively.