How to Use Architectural Fabric to Control Light and Heat

Architectural fabrics are best known for their sculptural forms and lightweight spans—but their performance goes far beyond aesthetics. When designed intelligently, tensile membrane structures can play a powerful role in controlling daylight, glare, solar gain, and thermal comfort.

In an era where energy efficiency and occupant wellbeing are top priorities, understanding how fabric systems interact with light and heat is key to delivering high-performance buildings.

So, how exactly do these materials work to control environmental conditions?

It Starts with the Material

The first, and most important, factor is fabric selection. Architectural membranes come in a range of materials, each with unique optical and thermal properties. Common choices include:

• PTFE-coated glass fibre: highly durable and naturally translucent; can transmit 10–20% of daylight while blocking UV and heat.
• PVC-coated polyester: versatile and cost-effective, available with different levels of translucency and solar reflectivity.
• ETFE foil: crystal clear, UV-stable, and can be layered to create adjustable solar shading through frit patterns or dynamic inflation.

Each material has different solar reflectance (SR), solar transmittance (Tsol), and shading coefficients – values that define how much solar energy is transmitted, reflected, or absorbed. These inform the building’s thermal and lighting performance.

Managing Daylight

One of the most elegant features of architectural fabric is its ability to diffuse natural light. Unlike glass or plastic, which can produce sharp shadows and glare, tensile membranes filter sunlight into a soft, even glow.

This makes them ideal for:

• Covered walkways or canopies where glare is a concern
• Public spaces like transport hubs or stadia that benefit from daylight without overheating
• Internal ceilings or atrium liners where diffused lighting enhances comfort

The right membrane can reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, contributing to lower energy costs and improved daylight autonomy.

Controlling Solar Heat Gain

Membranes also serve as effective tools for solar control—reflecting and absorbing solar radiation to reduce heat gain inside a building.

For example, a high-reflectance membrane can bounce 70–80% of solar energy away from a structure, keeping interior spaces significantly cooler. This reduces reliance on mechanical cooling, especially in hot climates or summer months.

Advanced systems like multi-layer ETFE cushions can even adapt to solar conditions. By adjusting internal air pressure or using variable frit patterns, these systems dynamically regulate light and heat—ideal for environments like botanical gardens or airports.

Thermal Performance in Lightweight Design

While tensile membranes don’t offer the same insulation values as solid roofs or walls, they excel in passive climate control, especially when used as part of a hybrid system.

Common applications include:

• Solar canopies over glazed facades to reduce solar loading
• Double-layer fabric façades for shading and aesthetic enhancement
• Fabric ceilings combined with acoustic and lighting control
• ETFE atriums that maintain light while reducing direct heat gain

In colder climates, translucent fabrics allow for solar heat gain when desirable (such as in winter gardens), while in warmer climates, they can block direct sun and create cooler, shaded environments.

Integration with Building Services

Architectural fabric doesn’t operate in isolation. It’s often integrated with:

• Lighting design: where the membrane acts as a diffuser
• HVAC planning: to mitigate thermal loads
• Acoustics: where the membrane can be microperforated to absorb sound
• Automation systems: where ETFE or fabric louvers are dynamically adjusted to match environmental conditions

The key is early-stage collaboration where fabric specialists, architects, and environmental engineers work together to optimise performance.

Sustainable, Smart, and Stunning

In short, architectural fabrics offer a rare combination: they’re lightweight yet durable, flexible yet high-performing, and sculptural yet functional.

When used strategically, they don’t just make a building look good, they make it work better.

How We Can Help

At Architen Landrell, we’ve delivered membrane structures across sectors – from airports and retail centres to transport interchanges and cultural buildings. We understand how to tailor materials, forms, and installation methods to deliver light, shade, and comfort, whatever the climate.

Want to learn more about how fabric can transform your building’s energy performance and interior environment?

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