The Department of Construction Technology at the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering has developed a mirror system for the natural lighting of rooms and inner courtyards in multi-story buildings with insufficient sunlight exposure. A Russian Federation patent (No. 2869703, dated February 26, 2026) has been obtained for the device.
The invention relates to the fields of construction and architecture. The system is designed to illuminate the courtyards and interior spaces of multi-story buildings that form enclosed courtyards. Its design incorporates multiple levels of convex and flat mirrors mounted on the building's facade using brackets.
To control the position of the mirrors, the device is equipped with actuators and trackers that monitor the sun's position. This allows the system's components to be repositioned according to the direction of the sunlight.
The design also provides for the automatic removal of snow and ice from the mirror surface. Heating elements are embedded in the mirrors, and the temperature is monitored by a sensor. The heating system activates automatically when the air temperature drops below a preset critical level.
This solution makes it possible to accommodate the operation of the mirror system in winter conditions, when snow and ice may form on its surface.
The inventors are Professor Yury Kazakov (DSc in Engineering, Department of Construction Technology) and PhD student Maksim Titov.