In this reading Baker and Steemers talk about the use of a mashrabiya in areas of the world where an extreme amount of light is constantly entering buildings so it is necessary to control it. A mashrabiya soften the light entering the structure while still allowing air to flow freely through a wall. It also allows for a level of privacy while still allowing for view out. Below is a picture of a traditional mashrabiya.
While looking at images of mashrabiyas I stumbled upon the addition that was made to the Lille Metropole Museum by Manuelle Gautrand in Villeneuve d’Asque, France. The addition uses mashrabiyas not to allow air to flow into the museum but to control the amount of light that enters the galleries. In some areas it softens the light while in other areas it completely blocks the light in order to protect the pieces of art.
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