The Sainsbury Wing: Daylight in the Galleries

Daylight enters the rooms through an 'attic' which comprises a series of chambers located between the galleries. The outer roof is double-glazed, one of the layers being a laminated glass that contains a layer of special material that absorbs a high proportion of the ultra-violet radiation.

The passage of light from the outer glazing to the individual lanterns in the roofs of the galleries is controlled by a bank of motorised louvres. These are positioned directly beneath the pitched outer glazing. The louvres serve two functions: first to moderate the passage of daylight during bright weather, and second to provide a complete 'blackout' of the galleries outside public opening hours.

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