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Louver Surface

Louver Surface is a product prototype for a new category of perforated metal panel. A Louver Surface panel is a metal sheet, laser cut to produce an array of metal tabs and louvers. Once cut, the louvers can be robotically bent to produce custom transparency, articulation, and open-air values.

Louver Surface

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Laser cut sheet—before bending
Laser cut sheet—after bending

Louver Surface is an advancement on Zahner’s textured panel technique used on projects like the Bloomberg Center at Cornell Tech designed by Morphosis or the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center at UT Dallas designed by Overland Partners. Unlike those projects – which were composed of a grid of tabs suspended in a frame – the entire face of Louver Surface can be articulated. Below are various levels of articulation.

Variable screen transparency (closed, partially open, fully open)
Photo © A. Zahner company.

Louver Surface 3D Configurator

Try the parametric configurator below to explore the vast aesthetic and performative potential of Louver Surface. Explore patterning and articulation qualities of Louver Surface.

Use the 3D configurator above to switch between diamond patterns and hexagon arrays with a single button click. Test different bending patterns and depths to create surfaces that shift and change from different vantage points. Try one-directional bending to create a surface that appears solid from one direction while maintaining openness in the opposite direction for ventilation and light control.

Louver surface in Zahner oscura blackened steel—’boxes’ pattern

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have an idea for using Louver Surface in an upcoming project? Do you have your own design you would like to apply? Get in touch with the form below to talk with a specialist and explore the endless possibilities of Louver Surface.

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Example of custom dual-louver panel
Louver surface in aged copper—square tile pattern

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