Site Logo

Life of an Architect

  • Podcast
  • about me
  • Questions / Contact
  • F. A. Q.
  • Do you want to be an Architect?
  • Architecture Books+
You are here: Home / Construction / Modern Trellis / Brise Soleil

Modern Trellis / Brise Soleil

April 2, 2012 by Bob Borson 12 Comments

This is the subject for today – a modern trellis, although more accurately described as a brise-soleil … a permanent vertical or horizontal sun shading device. This is a very simple one although it is deceivingly so.

Modern Trellis elevation

I am going to walk you through this shading device from its beginnings to a mostly finished product using the pictures I have taken from the many site trips I have taken on this project. Most images will be fairly self-explanatory but I will point out the items of interest.

Steel supports at bridge

Early on, you can see the tube steel that is in place to hold up the floor of the bridge component – but you can see that some of the tube steel extends through the exterior wall. These will ultimately be used as connection points for welding and will support the remaining trellis.

steel supports penetrating zinc siding

In this picture, the black zinc siding has been installed but it still has the protective wrap on the surface. The tube steel patiently waits …

bracket in zinc

Another consideration for assembling the trellis in this manner is that it allows us to hold the trellis off the face of the metal paneling and reduce the number of penetrations … it took a bit of work to flash this penetration properly (that means to keep water from getting inside) .

steel bracket in zinc siding

Another look at the flashing collar surrounding the tube steel penetration.

metal framework for modern trellis

Here you can see that the bracket for the trellis (or brise-soleil) has been completed. There is an ipé wood deck that is underneath the bridge and during the construction of the project, it was decided to extend this deck all the way out to the edge of the property. While this trellis will provide some protection from the sun, its main function is to help define the space to be used.

ipe wood for vertical louvers

This is actually a stack of ipé wood that will be used on the deck – but I’ve included a picture here because the ipé wood will also be used on the trellis in an effort to tie the materials of the space together. The deck boards are 1″ x 6″ but the members used in the trellis are actually 2″x6″.

Modern Trellis plan view

Here I am standing on the roof of the bridge looking down the zinc siding at the top of the trellis. You can see that there is a gap between the siding and the black metal channel that holds the wood trellis members. This channel is what was welded to the tube steel components that we took a look at earlier.

Modern Trellis plan view

This is a look down at the corner condition of the trellis and how it is not connected to the side of the building.

Modern Trellis elevation

Now you can get an image of the mostly completed trellis – hopefully, the simplicity of the design is what comes through. Designing anything down to its fewest essential parts is one of the hallmarks of modern design. As simple as the trellis is, it’s about to get even simpler …

Modern Trellis detail

A close-up look at the wood ipé boards and how they “sit” within a painted steel channel (a structural member that is shaped like the letter “C”). In between each 2″x6″ trellis board is a smaller 2″x6″ board that helps hold the trellis boards in the steel channel. Part of how they achieve this is simply by pressure. The other way?…

Trellis attachment supplies

Liquid nail and hidden finish nails!The liquid nail is used to hold the smaller board in place until the trellis 2″x6″ is slid into place – then a finish screw is set through the face of 2″x6″ trellis board so that it screws through the trellis board and into the smaller spacer board that is set completely within the channel … you won’t ever see it once the next smaller board gets put into place. Seems complicated until you learn one or two tricks.

Modern Trellis Detail Drawing

.

This is one of the construction details created for this trellis / brise-soleil – if you read drawings, you should be able to confirm what the pictures have shown along the way.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post, maybe even learned a thing or two along the way.

Cheers,

ps: if you would like to see how this trellis fits in aesthetically with the fence, here is the post on how the fence looks and how it was detailed and built (here)

 

even better stuff from Life of an Architect

Watch Your Mouth

033: Taking the Architectural Registration Exam

Pinterest for Architects

Ep 153: Inspiration

heard around the architectural studio #018

We, Myself and I

Ep 069: Better Faster Cheaper

2015 Life of an Architect Playhouse Design Competition - The Winners

Homemade Easter Float
Japanese Playhouse in New Zealand

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Construction, Modern House, My Work Tagged With: Construction Observation, Construction Process, design, details, Sale Street

Search Life of an Architect

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidiHeartRadioby EmailTuneInRSS

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Apparel for Architects

T-Shirts for Architects - Bob Borson

Support for Advice or Guidance - or if you simply want to show appreciation for the content produced on this site

Thanks!
Other Amount
Project Reference or Support for Questions Answered:

My “Serious” Disclaimer

The complimentary advice provided on ‘Life of an Architect’ is based on an abbreviated examination of the minimal facts given, not the typical extensive (and sometimes exhaustive) analysis I conduct when working with my clients. Therefore, anything you read on this site is not a substitute for actually working with me. Following my casual advice is at your own peril … if you want my undivided attention, I would recommend hiring me. Cheers.

Pages

  • Comment Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Architecture Books+
  • about me
  • Questions?
  • F. A. Q.
  • Do you want to be an Architect?
  • Podcast

Life of an Architect | Bob Borson

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Archives of Awesomeness

Copyright © 2025 Life of an Architect

 

Loading Comments...