architecture shadow

Alexander Suryandono

Architecture and Shadows a documentation of Topical Design Studio University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Fall 2011.

Studio advisor: Peter Wong

menu 1.0. the journey of life and death (3) 2.0. the forgotten shadow (5) 2.1. parametric padlock (6) 3.0. retroďŹ tting realtor (19) 4.0. the tow33r (27)

1.0. the journey of life and death Silhouette (noun) 1. a two-dimensional representation of the outline of an object, as a cutout or configurational drawing, uniformly filled in with black, especially a black-paper, miniature cutout of the outlines of a famous person's face.

2. the outline or general shape of something: the slim silhouette of a skyscraper.

3. a dark image outlined against a lighter background. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/silhouette?s=t) This is an exploration of the relation between light, object, and shadow. The object is an east facade of cemetery wall and gate on a clear day at 5:00pm in the winter season. The main focus is the silhouette itself. Part of it is filled with dark area and the other is filled with semi-dark area, exposed by indirect reflections from back surface of the front wall.

Life is a Journey. In a life, there is up, down, and sometimes static event. The cemetery gate tells it. The front perimeter, which will be covered fully by darkness, symbolizes something static. They are in the same height. The back perimeter highlights the story of individual people’s life. It is dynamic, not fully dark, since there are reflections from back side of front perimeter, and has different height. It has philosophy of life adventures.

When people were born, something big happens. It is noted by big massive wall on the left. Then, people learn to live their life, so the adaptation is symbolizes by decreasing wall’s height. However, sometimes there is up and down, combined with the front perimeter that is “usual, common” daily life. In the end, people will die. They will enter the world of mystery. It is symbolizes by the cemetery gate itself. The thin, two walls, that are the way to the eternity. It is ended with two seperate openings, one for people and the other one for the hearse. The opening for people is very low, only 5 feet height so when they enter the graveyard, they need to bow to respect the death. The opening for a hearse - or the dead has two high wall that point up. There is a belief that after people die, they will transcend to heaven. Another opening is hidden in the left side. It is used for service purpose.

the silhouette of cemetery gate

2.0. the forgotten shadow Shadow sometimes considered as unimportant things.

These shadows are the examples. Two objects are used for exploring the richness of shadow: electric plug and padlock.

Probably no one ever see the importance of it. However, this design methodology brings possibilities of generating shadow space from this forgotten shadow.

The exploration process begin with taking two objects. These objects are put under the light, mimicking the specific date and time of sun. Second, one of the shadow is taken as an “object” to proceed further. The padlock’s shadow on November 1 at 2pm is chosen as an object. This is a voluntryblack box process. Later, the 2 dimension object is transformed into 3 dimension space using computer as a tool.

playing with shadow electric plug, February 14 @2pm (top left) electric plug, September 10 @10:30am (middle left) padlock, October 14 @2pm (bottom left) padlock, November 1 @2pm, chosen object (bottom right)

2.1. parametric padlock The “forgotten shadow” on 2.0. is taken as a starting point to investigate here.

The padlock shadow is put into computer software, and transformed it into 3 dimensional form. The logic number behind the concept parametric formula is azimuth and altitude from the sun. It is combined with voluntary aspect in the parameter such as multiplication, rotation angle, and number. Different shape of shadows happens since the sun moves along the sun path, it goes up, down, and angled from equator. These are the basic concepts for two explorations: first, copying shadow plan up and then scale it, the second one is copying it up and rotate the shadow plan.

The investigation uses computer software as simulation tools: Adobe photoshop, Corel Draw, Rhinoceros with grasshopper, Maxwell render, and Autodesk Ecotect.

November 1 @ 2pm Charlotte, NC

shadow 2:00 PM source azimuth altitude Nov, 1 208 34

chosen object (top) simplify the shadow (middle) numeric data from ecotect weather files for Charlotte, NC (bottom)

grasshopper script in Rhinoceros to generate form on the first study

first study: up and rotate 1. take shadow as basic plan shape 2. copy shadow up to make vertical shape 3. rotate shadow 4. parametric: · distance between each shadow shapes (2.5-3.7) · number of shadow shapes which are copied up (2-10) · starting and ending rotation angle of shadows (62-118, 242-298)

10:00 AM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM azimuth altitude azimuth altitude azimuth altitude March, 21 127 40 215 50 246 30 June, 21 101 56 247 65 271 42 Dec, 21 145 22 206 27 230 12 time

Name

numeric data for solstice and equinox from weather ďŹ les of Charlotte, NC (top) modeling number (middle) picture of models (bottom, and next pages)

Model 1

Model Model Model Model Model Model Model Model Model

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

21-Mar top 4:00 PM 1at 1a 2at 2a 3at 3a 4at 4a 5at 5a 6at 6a 7at 7a 8at 8a 9at 9a

21-Jun top 4:00 PM 1bt 1b 2bt 2b 3bt 3b 4bt 4b 5bt 5b 6bt 6b 7bt 7b 8bt 8b 9bt 9b

21-Dec top 4:00 PM 1ct 1c 2ct 2c 3ct 3c 4ct 4c 5ct 5c 6ct 6c 7ct 7c 8ct 8c 9ct 9c

Model 2

Model 3

Model 4

Model 5

Model 6

Model 7

Model 8

Model 9

second study: up and scale 1. take shadow as basic plan shape 2. copy shadow up to make vertical shape 3. scale shadow 4. parametric: · distance between each shadow shapes (2.5-3.7) · number of shadow shapes which are copied up (2-10) · range of input data · graft type to shape the scale form · multiplication factor (1-3)

name

grasshopper script in Rhinoceros to generate form on the second study (top) numeric data from weather files (right)

Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4 Model 5 Model 6

date 21-Dec 21-Dec 21-Jun 21-Jun 21-Mar 21-Mar

time 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 12:00 AM 4:00 PM

angle altitude azimuth 33 174 12 230 78 154 65 167 67 166 35 257

Perspective

model 1

Front

Right

Perspective

model 2

Left

Back

Front

Right

Left

Back

Perspective

Perspective

model 3

Front

Right

model 4

Front

Left

Back

Right

Left

Back

Perspective

model 5

Front

Right

Perspective

model 6

Left

Back

Front

Right

Left

Back

Stereotomic version of model 2

3.0. retrofitting realtor

The concept The building is the Realtor property office. The project is aiming to utilize fabric as a facade component. The Realtor threesquared logo is taken as a starting point to shape the facade design. It is transformed using Rhinoceros-Grasshopper parametric tool to define the triangular shape. These triangle together with its shadow will make a rectangular image - the Realtor logo. The facade is devided into parts that is obtained from sun expose during the summer solstice. Front facade, for example, is devided into 10 because it is exposed 10 hours during the day. Then the specific azimuth and altitude angle is used to make the triangle distorsion. Totals 29 different angles for all facade.

Front elevation

The facade's performance is tested using Autodesk Ecotect 2011. This fabric facade reduce 2/3 heat gain during period March 21 - September 21 from 9 am - 4 pm

Side elevation

Transformation of logo into spatial concepts

Bamboo node

Realtor logo

Biomimicry in action The design embraces biomimicry concept. Biomimicry is mimicking how nature works. Nature always has a system that has multi functions. The frame system mimicking the bamboo and its nodes. It holds the fabric-provide a shading to the building. It holds a catwalk for cleaning and maintenance system.

The frame itself can work as a frestanding structures because the existing building uses prestressed beam and the facade system should not add more load to the building.

shadow space shadow space

Initial sketches of basic facade system

Palm leaf Design development from initial concept

Partial study model of facade (left and top right) Building north west elevation (bottom right)

Partial study model of facade (left) Building section (middle) Building south west perspective (top right) Building north east perspective (bottom right)

Area Total Radiation Total Direct Radiation Total Diffuse Radiation WITHOUT SHADING SUM TOTAL 1126.263 185283136 87229152 98054128 MAXIMUM 281.566 283737.688 133580.578 150157.125 MINIMUM 0.003 605.393 68.83 536.563 AVERAGE 1.719 282875.017 133174.278 149700.959 COMPARISON 0.362373744 0.26568361 0.44838859 WITH SHADING SUM TOTAL 1126.263 67141744 23175356 43966352 MAXIMUM 281.566 232917.984 99235.281 133682.703 MINIMUM 0.003 26970.283 0 26970.283 AVERAGE 1.719 102506.479 35382.223 67124.202

south east faรงade location 1201 Greenwood Cliff, Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28204 solar analysis Cumulative Value Incident Solar Radiation time period 21 April - 21 September 09:00am - 04:00pm

Insolation - without shading Insolation - with shading

Ecotect simulation Total sunlight hours (top left) Percentage exposed (middle left) Total radiation (bottom left) Percentage shaded (top right) Buttery shadow study (bottom right)

South east perspective (top left) North east perspective (top right) Eye bird south east perspective (bottom)

4.0. the tow33r slice

slide

shape

charlote: hornet’s nest honeycomb transformation first layer pattern

The Tow33r is a 33-story mixed use building in uptown Charlotte. Charlotte has a nickname: hornet's nest. The facade design pattern is obtained from transforming Charlotte's honeycomb. The pattern is devided into three different sizes. The big, city scale pattern is used for 19th-33rd floor. The medium, building scale pattern is used for 7th-18th floor and the small, human scale pattern is used for 3rd-6th floor.

The first two floors use big scale to emphasize the building when people arrive in front of the building. case study: Pangolin (left), Sanaa’s New Museum NY (right)

65° 40°

field of vision facade division

The tow33r is divided into three different segments based on human field of vision. From site front border, an 40 degree vertical angle is taken to devide between first six floors and 7th-18th floor. Then the second 65 degree angle defines the border between the second segment to the highest segment, 19th-33rd floor. 65 degree is the maximum vertical angle that people can see without moving their heads. 40 degree is comfortable view for people without moving their heads. 2 degree, which is defined by the first two floors and building entrance is the detil field of vision. The entrance design is obtained from repeating the big scale pattern and transform it into 3 dimensional object.

54°

76°

sun angle: altitude double glass second layer

front elevation

section (top) elevation left, back, right (right)

site plan (top) floor plan (right)

interior perspective (top) exterior perspective (right)

19th-33th floor

7th-18th floor

shadow system double facade

1st-6th floor

The Tow33r has two different facade systems. The ďŹ rst, honeycomb transformed facade is the outer layer. It has different sizes which are responded by second facade: a double glass system. The double glass system is angled from vertical according to building scale pattern.

The big pattern has 54 angled glass and the medium pattern has 76 angled glass. The small scale has a vertical glass but provide a setback from the pattern facade to provide a facade garden. The facade garden also occupies the space between angled glass and pattern facade.

Wh/m2 187000+ 171300 155600 139900 124200 108500 92800 77100 61400 45700 30000

connector aluminum facade steel frame steel wire ceiling frame ceiling double glass facade raised floor raised floor frame metal decking floor facade garden

shadow space (27th floor)

The angled facade reduce 1/3 to 2/3 solar heat gain. The simulation is done using Autodesk Ecotect 2011 for south east and southwest period in the period from March 21 to September 21st at 10 am - 15 pm (see image)

180000 160000 140000 120000 100000

vertical glass

80000

angle 76

60000

angle 54

40000 20000 0 southeast

southwest

insolation comparison ecotect study

Together, these facade system provide a shadow space that can reduce solar heat gain in the afternoon and glare. The daylight study shows the facade systems reduce glare in the oor edge (red colored) and make it more visually comfortable (blue colored).

1st-6th floor ecotect study

7th-18th floor ecotect study

19th-33th floor ecotect study