Sunspace
Sunspace is a relatively recent term which describes something similar to a winter garden, but constructed for reasons relating more to passive or solar design principles and building performance than for entertainment or horticulture.
A sunspace is a south-facing glazed area, similar to a winter garden, but not part of the thermal line or fabric envelope of the building. The space acts as a thermal buffer-zone in the winter, improving the thermal performance of adjoining walls and preheating colder outside air during the day before it enters the main building.
On milder summer days it acts as a warmer sunroom, whilst during peak summer daytime heat temperatures may become much higher, with some potential for heat exchange (sun as pre heating hot water). The space itself should be balanced with suitable extracts (potentially via heat exchangers ) or high level opening vents.
One example where extensive use of south-facing fully height glazed sunspaces contributed to the efficient performance of a building was in the Eco-development Beddington Zero (fossil) Energy Development known as Bedzed, located in South London. The sunspaces provide buffer zones to the external wall space and contribute to the low heating requirements for the buildings. The spaces had high level vents which were regrettably value engineered and this led to over heating issues in 2022. In discussion of the benefits of sunspaces, the architect said they 'add about 7.5% to the build cost, increase the floor area by 15% and can be occupied for 80% of the year without needing any extra heating'.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.