How can a Curtain Wall improve natural daylight without increasing glare or heat gain

Optimizing daylight using curtain walls while mitigating glare and solar heat gain requires a coordinated approach across glass selection, shading, and façade detailing. Start with high-performance glazing: low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and spectrally selective frits transmit visible light while reflecting infrared heat. Combine glazing performance with appropriate visible light transmittance (VLT) targets tailored to each elevation and interior function. External shading devices—brise-soleil, horizontal louvers for south-facing façades, and vertical fins for east/west orientations—block direct sun before it reaches the glazing, reducing glare and solar gain without sacrificing daylight. Integrate daylight redirecting strategies such as light shelves or upward-facing glazing geometries that bounce light deeper into the floorplate, producing more even illumination and reducing contrast that causes glare. Interior controls complement façade measures: automated solar-control blinds or motorized screens tied to a daylight sensor can modulate direct rays only when needed. Thermal considerations require balancing U-value and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) to meet HVAC load targets. Use daylighting and thermal simulation early in design—software like Radiance or EnergyPlus allows you to test combinations of glazing, shading and interior reflectances to achieve target lux levels with acceptable cooling loads. Finally, specify anti-reflective coatings or frit patterns to reduce specular glare for occupants and passersby. These strategies, when combined and validated by simulation, enable curtain walls to maximize useful daylight while limiting heat gain and glare. For glazing and shading system options, see https://prancedesign.com/curtain-wall-advantages-disadvantages-guide/.