Solar Responsive Kinetic Facade Shading Systems inspired by plant movements in nature

Rahul SURALKAR
M Arch in Technology 2010/11, Department of Architecture and Built Environment,
University of Nottingham

Abstract: Interactive facade technology is a way of designing building envelopes which can change their properties or form in response to various environmental stimuli like temperature, humidity, solar radiation, etc. The objective of this study is to develop a kinetic facade shading device inspired by the principle behind plant movements in nature, to analyse the potential of the system for its practical applications in facades and to examine the factors which determine the efficiency of shading device. The hinge-less bending deformation property of plants is translated into a kinetic shading device, featuring curve line folding mechanism, using flexible polymers. The designed component is tested using ANSYS static structural analysis. The application of verified component in building facades of different geometries is demonstrated using physical paper models and digital models. Further, the possibility of applying the principles of leaf rolling mechanisms in nature to design solar responsive actuator is demonstrated using smart materials.
Keywords: adaptive facade shading, biomimetics, curve-line folding, flexible polymers, shape memory alloys

Raul has won the Best Presenation Award in the MC 2011 Conference. The full paper can be found on the NCEUB website I have posted on the 20th September blog.

Light and experience: How can Architectural strategies of manipulating light, create experiential spaces.

DISHANT JARIWALA The University of Nottingham

ABSTRACT: Light has always fascinated designers, primarily for two basic reasons, first that it brings life to a building or an object by giving them depth and defining form and secondly it creates phenomenon in a space, for the user to appreciate and use the space. The following research focuses on how natural light can be manipulated by architectural strategies to create experiences in a space. The precedent studied here is ‘Chapel of St Ignatius’ by Steven Holl. Computer simulations were used to have quantitative analysis of light in the spaces and based on their inferences, factors like the movement of spectator (user), Glare, brightness, contrast and colours were further discussed and studied as how each of them were used by architectural means for the purpose of daylighting and creating sensations in the space, physical models were also used in the study. The study suggests that by using simple architectural strategies like building orientation and baffles, light can be manipulated to create ineffable spaces. The research is based on one building, but its implication can be used in different buildings depending on the functionality of the building.

Keywords: Architectural strategies; experience; glare; contrast; brightness  

The author of this paper is DISHANT JARIWALA, a current student of the MArch Environemntal Design Course, Nottingham University. He is going to present his research outcomes in the MC2011 Conference: People and Buildings held at the offices of Arup UK, 23rd September 2011. London. This paper and other 5 papers written by the current MArch ED students can be found HERE: http://nceub.commoncense.info/index.php?n=Network.MC2011ConferencePapers 

 

EXHIBIT at Golden Lane Estate, London

For those of you who are interested in Architecture inspired by Le Corbusier in London, you should not miss the Barbican and Golden Lane Estate at EC1 (the nearest Tube Station is Barbican) if you are going to join the Open House London tomorrow and Sunday.

In here, you will find a lot of unexpected architectural delight and surprises, and don't miss out the Barbican Art Centre and the Lake Side Cafe (an artificial lake in central London). Another interesting place to visit is the Exhibit Gallery at Golden Lane Estate. This great place is run by Alan and Yanki. Please see more details about this gallery HERE: Exhibit at Golden Lane Estate

Open House London

On this weekend 17th and 18th September, You will have the rare chances of visiting some of the well designed buiildings in London. If you are new to the UK and would like know more about the architecture in the capital. You can join the Open House London programme tomorrow. More information can be found HERE: Open House London

100% Design Show

100% Design Show is an intersting show for new design, products and materials for architecture and interior design. If you are interested in this show, please register before 16th September for a free entry badge. For registration, click here: 100% Design Show

Environmental Imagination

For those of you are are interested in Architecture, Environment and Poetry. This is a book I would highly recommend to you. The author is Professor Dean Hawkes, the external examiner of the MArch Environmental Design Course offered by the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Nottingham University. If you are coming to Nottingham to read the MArch Environmental Design, this is a reference book on the required reading list. You can read the introduction and first chapter HERE: Environmental Imagination



Book Review
Environmental poetry, 22 May 2009
By
Ken Stevens
This review is from: The Environmental Imagination (Paperback)
"Science is for those who learn; poetry, for those who know" (Roux). In this book Hawkes really gets to 'know' his buildings and communicates their characters in a poetic and vivid manner. He feels and listens to the spaces, revealing new insights about well-known buildings (by architects such as Corb, Mies, Asplund, Aalto, Kahn, Scarpa, Lewerentz, Zumthor, Siza and Holl). The book is underpinned by archival and research work that delivers new insights, quotes and drawings. Hawkes is as eloquent about pipes as he is about light and texture. In this book Hawkes sees what many have seen but thinks what nobody has thought.

The Poetics of Sacred Light - a comparative study of the luminous environment in the Ronchamp Chapel and the Church in the Monastery of La Tourette

Abstract

In Le Corbusier’s religious buildings, space, light, sound, colour and rhythm are the key architectural elements which introduce visitor to a sense of inner harmony resulting from a state of spiritual transformation. This spiritual transformation can be most vividly experienced in the Ronchamp Chapel and the Monastery of La Tourette. The aim of this paper is to investigate the luminous environment of these two sacred structures through a comparative study which was conducted qualitatively and quantitatively. Much can be learned by studying Le Corbusier’s buildings which were built with daylight as the primary light source. Detailed analysis of his work would provide valuable insights and data which can be applied to the more routine design of the luminous environment. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

Architecture responds to the Sun

This sacred structure shows how architecture and sun can hightened the spritual world.

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

John Pawson Architects

For those of you who are interested in John Pawson's work, please see his company website HERE.

Interesting Archiecture Blog

A Daily Dose of Architecture.

Making ICE in Desert

This is an exceptionally clever and ingenious way of coping with the excessive heat in the  dessert environment.

Open publication - Free publishing - More comfort

Architectural Journal Blog

For those of you who are coming to join us for the MArch Environmental Design Course, please read this FOOTPRINT Blog.

The poetics of contemplative light in the Church of Notre-Dame-du-Haut designed by Le Corbusier

This is a recent publication on the Comtemplative Light in Ronchamp Chapel.

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

The Measurable and Unmeasurable in Architecture - Daylight

“I only wish that the first really worthwhile

discovery of science would be that it recognised

that the unmeasurable is what

they’re really fighting to understand, and

that the measureable is only the servant

of the unmeasurable; that everything that

man makes must be fundamentally unmeasurable.” Louis Khan

Open publication - Free publishing - More daylight

New Beginning

Our students have just finished the studies with us, so my best wishes for their future. To welcome our new students, I would like them to have a look at this website: DA+BE. This will give you a more friendly introduction to the architecture school here.