Shade - A Short Study in Solar Control

What can shade tell us about climate, comfort, and the city?

Shade is often seen as a seasonal convenience, yet it plays a wider climatic role. It modifies microclimate, affects thermal comfort, influences how we occupy streets and public spaces, and can both mitigate and intensify overheating depending on geometry, materials, and season.

This early-evening RIBA London: North London Architects Group (NLAG) event explores shade and solar control from the scale of the street canyon to the device, the leaf, and the surface. Through short Pecha Kucha–style talks, speakers will examine how geometry, albedo, vegetation, and architectural devices shape sun, heat, and comfort in London’s built environment.

Expect lively discussion, cross-disciplinary perspectives, and plenty of opportunities to compare notes with fellow practitioners.

Speakers

• Dr Julie Futcher (NLAG): Canyon Geometry & Mutual Shading (Urban Microclimate)
• Prof. Marialena Nikolopoulou (University of Kent): Albedo, Solar Control & Comfort (Surface Properties)
• Dr Tom Dollard (Pollard Thomas Edwards): Architectural Shading Devices (Practice Perspective)
• Polly Turton (Shade the UK): Cultural & Design Perspectives on Shading
• Oliver Rock (HTA): Vegetation & Shading Infrastructure (Landscape)

Chair: Chin Chin Lam: Sustainability Officer & Chartered Urban Planner

Format

Pecha Kucha–style contributions, followed by short discussion and informal networking. Further networking afterwards at a nearby pub.

Who Should Attend

Architects, landscape practitioners, sustainability consultants, planners, students, early-career professionals, and allied disciplines across the built environment.

Why Attend

The event introduces shading as a form of climate-responsive design and climate infrastructure, linking geometry, vegetation, materials, comfort, resilience, and energy demand. It aims to build climate literacy in a relaxed, interdisciplinary setting while connecting practice, research, and education.

Part of London’s Climate Futures Events

#UrbanClimate #NLAG #RIBA #Shade

Terms and Conditions
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