19th century British engineer and architect
William Fairbairn is sometimes credited with the first designs for what he termed the
shed principle possibly as early as 1827. In his "Treatise on Mills and Millwork", of 1863, Fairbairn stated that, "Contemporaneous with the architectural improvements in mills [from 1827], the shed principle lighted from the roof, or the "saw-tooth" system, came into operation. It was chiefly adapted for power-weaving..." It was rapidly adopted during the industrial revolution for the many new
daylight factories where good natural lighting was essential in the manufacturing process and large areas of enclosed space were required to house the machinery. The first documented example can be found on the Weaving Shed (and perhaps also the Combing Shed) of
Titus Salt's
Saltaire Mills near Bradford, which were founded in 1851.
Decline and readoption There was a decline in its use when artificial lighting became prevalent, but the design re-emerged in the last quarter of the 20th century and early 21st century, as architects and designers placed greater importance and value in introducing
natural light into buildings for environmental efficiency. Reasons for the renewed interest in
daylighting include the high cost of fossil fuels and the realization that sources of electricity have a finite life. Less tangible aspects of daylighting relate more to the human spirit and quality of life. The sawtooth design has won praise for its potential for renewable energy. Judges of the British Construction Industry's award recognised that the distinctive shape offers potential for solar panels to be installed. Sawtooth roofs, in which opaque modular elements are combined with transparent surfaces, whether inclined or in various shapes, have become prevalent again. The exact dimensioning of these roofs is extremely important both in terms of energy savings, due to the reduction in electricity needed for artificial lighting, and as regards vision quality. ==Examples==