This office block in Rio de Janeiro features a triple-layered facade with a window wall, a screen of plants, and a thick lattice of perforated metal (+ slideshow).
The four-storey Aníbal Building was designed by Brazilian firm Bernardes Arquitetura for a busy street in the affluent Ipanema neighbourhood in the south of the city.

Both the noisy setting and the tropical climate led the architects to design a facade that functions as a filter for sound and sunlight, helping to create a comfortable environment for the staff working inside.

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To do this, they divided the walls up into three different sections, each designed to serve a different function.
"The facade is composed of a package of different layers," said Bernardes Arquitetura, which was founded by architect Thiago Bernardes.
"The outermost skin is a lattice of perforated aluminium that covers the upper working floors, followed by a green buffer and special soundproof windows."

The perforated aluminium exterior is the most dominant of the three layers. During daylight hours it is only possible to see through it at close range, but it becomes transparent by night when lights shine through from inside.
The floor-to-ceiling windows slide open, so occupants can choose whether they want the breeze to flow into the building.

The layout of the Aníbal Building is fairly str...