Climate Adaptive Building Shells

The following are some examples of 'climate adaptive building shells'. The shown examples deal with the skin  filtering amounts of light in and also shading - which is a main concept (controlling daylight) I will be trying to explore with my architectural entity.

Information are gathered from this online document:
http://www.bwk.tue.nl/bps/hensen/team/past/master/Loonen_2010.pdf


Aegis Hyposurface - Mark Goulthorpe: dECOi Architects

• the system consists of transformable triangulated metal plates, driven by a bed of 896 pneumatic pistons 
• deforms in real-time, based on various environmental stimuli, including the sounds and movement of people, weather and electronic information 
• the piece marks the transition from autoplastic (determinate) to alloplastic (interactive, indeterminate) space

Sources: http://www.sial.rmit.edu.au/Projects/Aegis_Hyposurface.php

http://www.mediaarchitecture.org/aegis-hyposurface-kinetic-mediafassade/

Aldar Central Market - Foster and Partners, Abu Dhabi

• the grid system provides panels of controlled permeability that vary smoothly between a covered state and a largely open state
• in its covered configuration, the shading roof appears similar to a traditional coffered Islamic roof
• when retracted, the roof becomes a slender lattice that complements the designs by the Foster team for fixed shading

Sources: http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1431/Default.aspx
http://www.adaptivebuildings.com/aldar-central-market.html

City of justice - Foster + Partners, Madrid Spain

• hexagonal shading units will occupy the central circular atrium as well as the eight peripheral atria of the judicial complex
• when extended, the system will cover the entire triangulated roof grid. When retracted, their profile will 'disappear' into the structural profile of the roof
• a custom algorithm combining historic solar gain data with real-time lightlevel sensing will control the shading units

Sources: http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/1453/default.aspx
http://www.adaptivebuildings.com/city-of-justice.html

ETFE roofs

• ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) is increasingly used in buildings because of its lightweight properties, high daylight transmittance and the potential for energy savings
• compared to conventional glazed roofs, ETFE cushions can provide thermal insulation with reduced initial costs and less structural supports
• application of a reflective frit to an inflatable intermediate cushion can dynamically alter the roof’s optical properties

Beijing National Aquatics Center

Source: http://continuingeducation.construction.com/article.php?L=5&C=418&P=2


Flare façade - WhiteVoid interactive art and design, Berlin Germany

• acting like a ‘living skin’, flare façade allows a building to express, communicate and interact with its environment
• the system consists of a number of tiltable metal flake bodies supplemented by individually controllable pneumatic cylinders
• by reflecting ambient or direct sunlight, the individual flakes of the FLARE system act like pixels formed by natural light

Source: http://www.flare-facade.com/

Pfalzkeller - Santiago Calatrava, St. Gallen, Switzerland

• Calatrava designed a symmetrical system, covering the glazed roof of a largely underground building
• two arched tubes position the articulated slats on each side of the roof, and in this way dynamically control daylight
• the system was the first application of a movable roof cover based on slats in combination with a mechanical hoist system

Source: http://www.worldarchitecturemap.org/buildings/pfalzkeller-emergency-centre

Smart Energy Glass - Peer+ | Eindhoven, The Netherlands

• an innovative coating allows the window to switch its optical properties in three different states: dark, bright and privacy
• part of the sunlight is captured and converted into electricity in PV-cells mounted at the edges of the window
• when equipped with batteries, the system becomes autonomous and can be integrated in the building envelope without the need for external wires

Source: http://www.peerplus.nl/default/index/smart-energy-glass

The esplanade - DP Architects and Michael Wilford & Partners, Singapore

• movable triangular sunshades admit diffuse daylight while at the same time excluding direct sunlight
• the shapes and sizes of each of the 7139 shutters were determined on the basis of solar optimization studies
• provides the building with climate control mechanism, much as an animal can raise the hair on its back

 

 

Source: http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature101.htm