Sun Sails are tensile shade structures grouped to form ribbons and wave forms that mimic the wave energy of water and wind. By assembling these tensile forms in a configuration that suggests movement, they provide a beautiful sculptural illusion of the wind's animation while providing shade.
Each of these Sun Sails is a standard module whose configuration is adapted to different locations by a simple pivot system that allows for fine tuned adjustment of angles before being fixed permanently. In these renderings the sails are 11 x 17', though scale could vary depending on the context.
Rigid tubes on the two short sides of the sails hold the fabric in a tensile curve while a pivot point in the center of these tubes is attached to upright poles of different heights. Taut cable along the remaining edges holds the fabric under tension. Sun Sails can be cantilevered out from buildings to lower the cost of cooling within buildings while providing shade for pedestrians. The waveforms can be grouped over open courtyards, sidewalks and parking lots by combining tension cables and rigid members so the columns have a minimal footprint on the ground. The tilt of the ribbon can respond to the prevailing angles of the sun through the hottest times of day and year. These single modules can be reconfigured in almost limitless ways thereby controlling costs while allowing for the maximum flexibility of sculptural form.
