Louvres are the angled horizontal slats on doors, windows or other openings. Ideally they allow light and air through while keeping rain out. Louvres may be fixed in place or designed to tilt, though tilting slats are usually termed Jalousies. Louvres date back many centuries, long before glass windows. They have remained in use because of their visual appeal, suiting various architectural designs. But their functional use is also important. Simple and reliable, Louvres are excellent for providing illumination and airflow. Modern louvres are made from a variety of materials, including wood, glass and various metals. Steel and aluminium louvres are particularly popular, and durable under almost all conditions. Steel can be painted to suit most architectural styles. Buildings and gates are often made as louvres. They provide shelter and security for their contents comparable to a conventional building, while still allowing air to circulate. This is especially useful for electronics and machinery that generates heat. Louvres buildings provide solid protection for their contents at a reasonable cost.
Louvre windows, doors, gates and buildings are suitable for many situations. They are useful as smaller stand-alone buildings or a fixtures on larger complexes. Louvres are both stylistically appealing and functionally reliable. They are a common feature on many Sydney buildings.