Dynamic Façade Design Experiments
Playing with actuator / driver ideas for dynamic façades: this is loosely based on a range of ideas exploring umbrella-type swing arms and a single linear driver; this would entail each planar sunshade to be split.
I started thinking about a semi-solid dynamic façade with triangular scales, and needed to design a new actuator / driver. This is my schematic result: a V-driver. Here it's in a "valley-fold" configuration.
My V-driver design fully extended.
My V-driver design in "mountain fold" configuration.
My V-driver design through full range-of-motion.
My V-driver design with façade scale in very low shading configuration.
My V-driver design with façade scale in medium shading configuration.
My V-driver design with façade scale in maximum shading configuration.
My V-driver design with façade scale, moving through full range-of-motion.
Array of my V-driver design with façade scale, moving through full range-of-motion.
180º opposed scales setup: maximum shading over rectilinear static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: medium shading over rectilinear static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: low shading over rectilinear static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: maximum shading over chevron butt-glazed static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: medium shading over chevron butt-glazed static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: lower shading over chevron butt-glazed static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: low shading over chevron butt-glazed static façade.
180º opposed scales setup: low shading over chevron butt-glazed static façade - close-up.
Flower scales 90º alignment: low shading over rectilinear static façade.
Flower scales 90º alignment: low shading over rectilinear static façade; close-up.
Flower scales alignment over rectilinear static façade moving through full range-of-motion.
Flower scales 60º alignment: full shading over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics - I love this result.
Flower scales 60º alignment: medium shading over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics - I love this result.
Flower scales 60º alignment: low shading over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics - I love this result.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics. Full range-of-motion.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics. Full range-of-motion.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
Flower scales 60º alignment over hexagonal static façade; on discovering that to avoid interference I needed to trim the back edges, I decided to consciously invoke biomorphic influences for both fit and æsthetics.
This portfolio showcases some of my ongoing design thinking and experimentation around dynamic façade systems
These can allow for simple, highly-effective control of sunlight impinging into a highly-glazed building, and can add literal dynamic variety to the exterior appearance; they can also be used to tune upwelling thermal currents between the outer façade and the inner, to draw warm air out through vents and open windows non-mechanically.
There are a host of benefits and design challenges; this is some of my more presentable schematic design thinking in this area.
I'm quite happy with my triangular scale solid system approach, which with minor modifications allows for 180º opposed, 90º opposed flowers, or 60º hexes or even 45º octagonal alignments, which make this schematic concept design adaptable to many common structural systems and fenestration schemas; it also allows development of alternate visual rhythms and even allows for responsive design based on sensors, which could be tuned to run from ambient sound, or wind direction, or even in response to music.
