Kinetic Interventions: Aesthetically Reducing Energy

Thesis Research/Design Kinetic Interventions:

Aesthetically Reducing Energy Kyle Emmert

TABLE OF CONTENTS Directed Research (Summary) 1834 Walnut Street Existing Kinetic Intervention:

Focus Area (Dynamic Metamorphosis)

Kinetic Intervention:

Focus Area (User Viewport)

Kinetic Intervention:

Focus Area (Filtered Lighting)

pg. 2-7 pg. 8-11 pg.12-15 pg.16-19 pg. 20-23

Opinion Based Comparisons

pg. 24

Closing Remarks

pg. 25

Thesis Exploration:

Kinetic Interventions: Aesthetically Reducing Energy Introduction:

In the current stage of the World, we are tasked with fighting back against the effects of climate change. This job does not rest on a single individual, but on the shoulders of all humans present and future. Countless actions have been and are currently taking place in trying to “fix” the situation we placed ourselves in.

Actions such as reducing fossil fuel consumption, obtaining energy through a natural green way, recycling of materials, along with countless others. Although we are implementing new habits to counteract climate change, there continues to be a huge growing need to find more sustainable solutions to try and prevent the events of global warming. A major component in helping this fight is to reduce the energy consumption of a building/structure. This thesis will explore ways to design and make building facades more effective in a way to help reduce the need for additional energy required to supplement a space such as heating/cooling. This is a strong interest of mine because I feel that, as an architect, it is not only our responsibility to bring a shelter to individuals, but to effectively design something that supports the intended program and also enhances life around it. Reducing the energy usage of a building may seem like it holds a small impact, but if done correctly it can spread an idea which can collectively make huge strides in the battle against climate change.

Why Is This Important?: Climate Change: The prominent issue the world is tasked with currently is the dawn of huge changes in Earth’s climate. It is an extremely important aspect of life that we all are asked to take part in the attempt to try slowing down/reversing its outcomes. NASA offers a great perspective into the matter. They have listed data that shows what is currently happening in terms of climate change.

NASA states the following: Carbon Dioxide levels in the air are at their highest in 650,000 years Nineteen of the warmest years have occurred since 2000 Satellite data shows that the Earth’s polar ice sheets are losing mass Global average sea level has risen nearly 7”(178mm) over the past 100 years The past 20 years have seen the warmest ocean temperatures on record.

With all that being said, it shows some of the many impacts global warming has already had on the Earth. If nothing can address these issues, our lives and those who follow will be severely affected. As an architect, I believe that it is our responsibility to take action and accountability to contribute to this effort. Our contribution to innovation and design won’t erase the looming effects of climate change, but they can easily guide us on the right path to a better future.

Impact of Energy Needs for Buildings:

The reason we are in a climate crisis comes from a variety of factors. Some being the extensive use of fossil fuels, recycling not being heavily enforced, use of harmful chemicals, and the list goes on. So how does architecture tie into the events brought upon us by global warming.Well there are actually quite a few, but I will focus on the demands a building needs to function. As you may know, most of the energy we produce is not green and is extremely harmful for the environment. Most energy plants, as of now, utilize fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity. According to fact sheet produced by the University of Michigan, “76% of U.S. energy will come from fossil fuels in 2050, which is widely inconsistent with IPCC carbon reduction goals”. That is where the energy being used in buildings becomes an issue for the environment since it is a chain of events that are inherently bad. “The buildings sector accounts for about 76% of electricity use and 40% of all U. S. primary energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions”. The more energy we use in buildings the more we are most likely damaging our ecosystem. Therefore, the reduction of energy needed is a partial solution to the matter at hand. A big portion of the energy used in buildings comes from conditioning the space within. Whether that be heating or cooling it still has an impact. Along with it being bad for the environment, it is a negative for those who own and pay for the building to run. Energy costs money and no one wants to spend money on things that can be avoided/reduced.

Within the United States, we, as a country, use immense amounts of energy for our buildings to function. “In the Annual Energy Outlook 2021, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that in 2020, electricity use for cooling the interior of buildings (space cooling) by the U.S. residential and commercial sectors was about 392 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), which was equal to about 10% of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2020. The residential sector’s electricity use for cooling was about 236 billion kWh in 2020, which was equal to about 16% of total residential sector electricity consumption and 6% of total U.S. electricity consumption. The commercial sector, which includes commercial and institutional buildings, used about 155 billion kWh for cooling in 2020, which was equal to about 12% of total commercial sector electricity consumption and 4% of total U.S. electricity consumption.” Along with this “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has found that about 40% of energy costs for the average commercial building are spent on heating, cooling and ventilation. This equates to about 7.5% of total costs for the average office building, since 19% of total costs are energy costs. In 2012, a DOE study found that U.S. commercial building owners could save an average of 38% on heating and cooling costs if they install an energy efficient HVAC control system. The range of cost savings (22% to 56%) determined by the study depends on building size, building use, regional climate and local utility costs.” These numbers are staggering and really go to show that a big reason the situation we are in is due to energy costs of buildings. This is why action must be taken immediately in order to address the issue and solve it as quickly as we can produce solutions.

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Case Studies: Arab World Institute:

The idea of lowering the energy a building needs to function is by no means new in any regard. There are countless projects that have and are implementing creative strategies in an attempt to achieve this goal. One project that truly got me interested in this area of need is the Arab World Institute located in Paris, France. The outstanding design was developed by both the Architecture-Studio and Jean Nouvel and was constructed in the years 1981-1987. The key component that really stands out in this attempt to reduce energy consumption is through this mechanical curtain wall system it has in place. This specific curtain wall faces a public space that opens in the direction of the Île de la Cité and Notre Dame and has a system of apertures that open and close depending upon the natural heat gain the building receives. These apertures are actually geometric motifs which act as a brise soleil and are composed of 240 photo-senstive controlled shutters. This screen was not just designed in a way to help prevent natural heat gain, but to also resemble filtered light heavily present in Islamic architecture. The Arab World Institute was also the recipient of the 1989 Aga Khan Award for Architectural Excellence. Unfortunately, the facade began to experience difficulties with it functioning properly. Over complicating a system can evoke promising results, but can ultimately end in failure as this did for many years. A large portion of the apertures began freezing up and no longer working.In an article written by Jacob Schoof he explained the reason for the facade freezing up. He said “...more and more electric motors broke down and it was not until 2017 that they were renewed, namely in a large-scale façade renovation measure to mark the 30th anniversary of the institute.” This idea is still truly astonishing and was made many years ago.This creative idea has definitely made its way into other architectural developments, but I believe that it has not truly been experimented on and improved like it should. If it was designed decades ago, the possibilities of expanding upon this idea with the current technology available can really offer exciting results and is something I am heavily interested in.

North House(RVTR):

Another example of a project developing creative strategies for reducing energy costs is the North House designed by the firm RVTR. It was an entry in the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. 2009. “North House is an 800sf proof of concept prototypical prefabricated solar powered home designed for northern climates (42°-55° latitude) whose goal is to advance approaches to responsive envelope design and challenge conventional assumptions regarding the design of domestic typologies for northern climates through the pairing of hybrid integrated active and passive envelope systems with interactive controls. In combining these technologies, the North House prototype delivers a net energy-producing dwelling that sponsors new relationships between occupants, their surrounding environment and building systems.”The primary aspect that appealed to me was the responsive envelope the project showcased. It essentially was a system of solar shading blinds that would naturally open and close due to exterior conditions. The design of this device was nothing fancy like the AWI, but it performed well with the project earning numerous awards for its performance. This case study compares interestingly to the AWI for a number of reasons. The scale of the projects differ greatly, the complexity of the devices, and performance. It was obviously a prototype whereas the AWI was a huge construction project, but the differences and similarities show key things to take into consideration. Things such as simplicity in the design and not involving such large amounts of components that made up the system and produce similar results.

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Al Bahar Towers:

Ultimately, my interest in addressing this problem of global warming through the facade of a building came not only from my desire to help promote a more sustainable way of living, but also the relatively new idea of kinetic facades. A kinetic facade is essentially components of the exterior that will interact with environmental stimuli or, in other words, react to the conditions of the outside. One building that really encapsulates my design approach is the Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi. The 145 meter towers were designed by Aedas Architects and completed in June of the year 2012. So what makes these buildings a form of kinetic architecture? It is kinetic through the solar shading screen each has attached to them. “The screen operates as a curtain wall, sitting two meters outside the buildings’ exterior on an independent frame. Each triangle is coated with fiberglass and programmed to respond to the movement of the sun as a way to reduce solar gain and glare. In the evening, all the screens will close.” Additionally, the deputy chairman of Aedas, Peter Oborn, said “At night they will all fold, so they will all close, so you’ll see more of the facade. As the sun rises in the morning in the east, the mashrabiya along the east of the building will all begin to close and as the sun moves round the building, then that whole vertical strip of mashrabiya will move with the sun.” I find this feature to be astonishing and something that will really begin changing the world of architecture in the near future. I foresee kinetics to really impact how buildings will appear/operate in growing cities around the world. This is why I find this as an incredible opportunity to begin fundamentally designing the future of buildings. Along with the beauty that this technological/ architectural relationship brings, it is incredible for what it can begin doing for the environmental impact buildings have. “It is estimated that such a screen will reduce solar gain by more than 50 percent, and reduce the building’s need for energy-draining air conditioning. Plus, the shade’s ability to filter the light has allowed the architects to be more selective in glass finish.” The design was awarded the 2012 TALL BUILDING INNOVATION AWARD along with many applauding the technology being deployed at such a large scale.

Lastly, the feature of allowing different glass finishes I find extremely interesting. This is because of the number of deaths birds face within cities around the globe. "Building collisions, and particularly collisions with windows, are a major anthropogenic threat to birds, with rough estimates of between 100 million and one billion birds killed annually in the United States,"

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After careful consideration of the previously mentioned precedents and collection of data, I was able to begin formulating design ideas/strategies for these mechanical facade systems. With the goal of creating systems that can work universally around the globe, countless considerations came into play when creating such a system. Ultimately, I wanted something that fit into the characteristics of life around the world. Connections to nature as an overarching concept, can be found in all, or at least a majority, of cultures around the world. Although the visual appearance of nature changes depending on the location, it is still the most prominent aspect of this world that we experience daily. With the design intent now present, I began thinking of ways in which a facade system could benefit any region of the world and what it would look like. My interventions all focus on effectively reducing sun exposure into a building. Additionally, these prototypes are all exterior based to reduce the overall heat gain of a building by preventing the transmission of light passing through glass. Each of the three explorations I designed all differ in a variety of ways, but all of them relate back to four overall design aspirations. These aspirations are as follows:

Energy Reduction

Design Goal:

The goal of these interventions is to reduce the amount of heat that enters the building by applying an exterior screen that diminishes the amount of heat gained through the passage of glass. The applied kinetic screen would react to the sun’s position over the course of a day and manipulate its form to keep in line with energy reduction unless otherwise overridden.

Dynamics

Energy Reduction:

Dynamics:

Researching existing kinetic buildings made me drawn to the idea of dynamic elements. The transformation of parts/modules is something that visually displays that buildings are not these inanimate objects, but are very much living machines.

User Manipulation:

Having the ability to override the preset energy reducing configuration is an important feature that was taken into consideration. People have different preferences and should be allowed to express them which allows them to make a space of their own.

As said prior, my designs aim to use nature as an inspiration. One deals with biomimicry of the life cycle of the lotus flower. This concept was utilized by the interesting transformation of the flower which I felt really brought out the sense of movement I saw a version of the explorations taking. Another one took the traditional use of louvers and revamped them to be in the form of kinetics while also supplying the building with energy through the use of solar panels. This itteration utilized the color pallete of the sky to form a connection with users on the exterior. My last intervention focuses on recreating the feel of filtered light that is present beneath tree canopies. The mesh like material aims to be lightweight and almost leaf-like. As a whole, the facade elements offer a patterning element that helps bring the older structure into more of a modern feel.

User Manipulation

The appearance of the interventions is highly considered throughout these studies. These kinetic elements strive to be visually beautiful from the exterior and spatially elegant from the interior. Along with this, the idea of never being able to see the building the same way you may see it earlier in a day adds an interesting aesthetic feature I find extremely compelling. A building becomes a constantly changing structure.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics:

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Intended Program:

I want to push forward this idea onto a commercial office building. The reason behind this perusal comes from a variety of reasons. The first being that in an office setting, workers are typically indoors and don’t typically get a ton of engagement from the outside environment. With this in mind, I think it would be quite interesting to see how the entire environment can change over the course of a day due to the facade system. It could add a spark of life to the building by simply watching this living machine. Another reason for choosing this is due to office buildings needing frequent adjustments in its interior environment to accommodate its workers. This would allow the system to show its potential in reducing the costs. Lastly, I feel as though the office building is quite prominent in most areas and can truly set an example for how these buildings can adapt and look in the future.

Anticipated Implementation of Design: Philadelphia:

Philadelphia is located in the United States and within the state of Pennsylvania. The climate there is considered Humid Continental. This climate is interesting because it changes quite a lot over the course of a year. The city experiences warm to hot summers and cool to freezing winters. “The hot season lasts for 3.6 months, from May 30 to September 16, with an average daily high temperature above 77°F. The cold season lasts for 3.1 months, from December 2 to March 7, with an average daily high temperature below 49°F.” To further climatic conditions, the city receives a fairly good amount of precipitation. “The most rain falls during the 31 days centered around July 27, with an average total accumulation of 3.8 inches.” With all this being said, I expect the design of the mechanical facade systems to be the most active and changing in this climate zone in order to address the needs of the building.

1834 Walnut Street (Mutual Benefit Life Building):

As mentioned previously, my thesis plans to be attached to that of an office building. This is due to the engagement users have with such a structure. The building is alive during the day and hibernates at night. With all that being said, I intend to deploy the prototype kinetic screen on an already existing building. This particular building being the Mutual Benefit Life building located on Walnut Street within Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia. The structure is a 25 story office high rise that was built in 1972. The design was done by Eggers & Higgins and was eventually added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1995.

So the question of “why this building?” or “why an existing structure?” may arise to many. This particular building is located in, what I consider, a perfect spot to test this prototype on. This is due to the fact that the building has plenty of space to receive an abundance of sunlight, has a park adjacent to it which promotes many to see it, it’s a prominent part of the city which allows for this idea of importance to hopefully be instilled in the minds of many. With this building being historic this may deter those from accepting the idea of change to it. With that being said, the design would not be to alter the structure but simply adding a screening element on the exterior. So now to answer the question of why use an already built building rather than design one from scratch. The reasoning behind this is to not only improve on the decrease of energy consumption the building has but to also show that this prototype can be used to help change new and old architecture.

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Bibliography: “Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.” NASA. NASA, September 28, 2021. https://climate.nasa.gov/.

“U.S. Energy System Factsheet.” U.S. Energy System Factsheet | Center for Sustainable Systems. Sustainable Design University of Michigan, 2021. Accessed 25 September 2021 https://css.umich.edu/factsheets/us-energy-system-factsheet.

QTR. “An Assessment of Energy Technologies and Research .” QUADRENNIAL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. QTR, September 2015. Accessed 28 September 2021 https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/03/f34/qtr-2015-chapter5.pdf.

“How Much Electricity Is Used for Cooling in the United States?” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA, 2021. Accessed 24 September 2021 https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=1174&t=1.

Moriarity, Michael. “Heating and Cooling Costs in Commercial Buildings.” Heating and Cooling Costs in Commercial Buildings. 75F, July 12, 2017.

Accessed 24 September 2021 https://www.75f.io/blog/heating-and-cooling-costs-in-commercial-buildings.

Lipstadt, Helene (1989). "Review: Les Grands Projets "Paris 1979-1989" in New York". French Politics and Society. Accessed 26 September 2021 "Institut du Monde Arabe | Aga Khan Development Network". Accessed 28 September 2021 www.akdn.org. Retrieved 2021-08-30 IMA, “Architecture: Arab World Institute,” Institut du monde arabe (Institut du monde arabe, October 13, 2016), Accessed 28 September 2021 https://www.imarabe.org/en/architecture.

“HIGH PERFORMANCE ENERGY PRODUCING RESIDENTIAL PROTOTYPE.” North House. RVTR, 2017. Accessed 28 September 2021 http://www.rvtr.com/projects/north-house.

Cao, Lilly. “What Are Kinetic Facades in Architecture?” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, August 14, 2019. Accessed 13 December 2021 https://www.archdaily.com/922930/what-are-kinetic-facades-in-architecture.

Cilento, Karen. “Al Bahar Towers Responsive Facade / Aedas.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, September 5, 2012. Accessed 13 December 2021 https://www.archdaily.com/270592/al-bahar-towers-responsive-facade-aedas.

Crook, Lizze. “Deezen.” Mass bird deaths in New York City caused by Skyscraper Collisions. Deezen, September 17, 2021. Accessed 13 December 2021 https://www.dezeen.com/2021/09/17/mass-bird-death-new-york-city-skyscraper-collisions/amp/.

“Philadelphia Climate.” Philadelphia Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Pennsylvania, United States) - Weather Spark. Weather Spark. Accessed September 27, 2021. https://weatherspark.com/y/22721/Average-Weather-in-Philadelphia-Pennsylvania-United-States-Year-Round.

“Mutual Benefit Life Building (Philadelphia) in Philadelphia, United States.” Wander. Wander. Accessed December 14, 2021. https://www.wander.am/travel/philadelphia-58/places/mutual-benefit-life-building-philadelphia-162380.en.html.

“Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Nuuk.” Nuuk Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Greenland) - Weather Spark.

Weather Spark. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://weatherspark.com/y/29787/Average-Weather-in-Nuuk-Greenland-Year-Round.

Climate-Data.org, _. “Average Temperature Dubai.” Climate Dubai. Climate-Data.org, 2021. https://en.climate-data.org/asia/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-705/.

Duncan, Gillian. “What Causes the UAE's Sandstorms and Are They Dangerous?” The National News. The National News, July 5, 2021.

Accessed 28 September 2021 https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/what-causes-the-uae-s-sandstorms-and-are-they-dangerous-1.841179.

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1834 Walnut Street: Philadelphia, PA

Selection Criteria: Distinct Climate Conditions (Humind Continental) Glassy Exterior Not having huge shadows casted onto building Existing Office Building Ability for many to witness facade from exterior

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Sample Floor Plan:

Site Plan:

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Program/Uses:

Site Photos:

Commercial Parking Gym Office Space Mechanical Penthouse

Intended Process: Precise Energy Usage

Module Configuration

Conditioned Air

Motor Controls

Caculated Cooling/ Heat Load

Central Computer/Cloud

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Module Equipped Sensor

Thermostat

Sun Intensity

Internal Temperature

Climate Analysis Philadelphia, PA

12 PM

Summer Solstice 78

Equinox 50

Sun Path: Winter Solstice

4:37 AM

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5:51 AM 7:24 AM

Climate Data:

Yearly Solar Gain:

Solar Analysis (kWh/m2)

Philadelphia, PA Study Start Time: 1/1/2022 Study End Time: 12/31/2022

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Kinetic Intervention:

Focus Area (Dynamic Metamorphosis)

Description: The following kinetic intervention has a strong focus on the dynamic metamorphosis of the module. Biomimicry of the lotus flower was the inspiration behind the design of the shape. This particular module starts out as a hexagon, but when fully opened it becomes 12 sided. With this unique capability, this intervention works great on any side of the building due to the panels being able to greatly adjust to block out direct light while still offering users a nice view out. This intervention is on the higher end of complexity due to the amount of moving parts present.

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Biomimicry: Lotus Flower

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Mode of Operation:

90 Max

1. Structural Framing:

2. Construction of Module:

3. Intial Mobility:

2. Secondary Mobility:

Steel pieces would be rivited together to host the modules. The structure framing would attach to the existing structural members present on building.

6 individual triangular pieces would come together to form a now hexagonal shape.

This could be assembled prior to or after aplication to building.

Each triangluar piece would be connected to framing element through a hinge like connection.

Additionally, there would be an internal skeletal component to help with raising/lowering.

After initial movement of prototype, the module has the ability to open even more though an underlayed piece that opens in a similar fashion as the first.

Module Characteristics:

Laylight (Fiberglass-Like material)

12’ 0”

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Working Hours:

13’ 10”

Mesh Screening

Hibernation:

During the working hours of the office, the kinectic elements would change depending on the exterior and or interior conditions.

Employees will be given the ability to control zones of the facade to overide the established configurement.This would those to help alter their workspace if not satisfied how the much light is entering space.

The interesting feature of an office building is the on/off switch it has. When people are working, it functions like any other building, but once the shift ends the building serves minmal purpose. I like to call it hibernating. With this being said, the panels would close during this time to ensure the building is not gain additional heat and during cold seasons could help keep heat from escaping.

E A

S T

EQU I N O X

W I N T ER S O LS T I CE

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A M

SU M M E R S O L S T I C E

S O

EQU I N O X

H W I N T ER S O LS T I CE

1 2

P M

SU M M E R S O L S T I C E

U T

W E S T EQU I N O X

W I N T ER S O LS T I CE

3

P M

SU M M E R S O L S T I C E

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Kinetic Intervention: Focus Area (User Viewport)

Description: The following kinetic intervention has a strong focus on the inhabitants viewpoint. The viewport is generated based on the average height of a man and the sitting height of a woman. The module takes the ideas of traditional louver elements and makes them dynamic. These solar shading devices also have the interesting quality of collecting energy while shielding direct sun impact through the modules having solar collecting elements. The solar panels are also a variety of blue colors that attempt to connect inhabitants of the ground to the sky.

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Module Characteristics: Solar Panels

Aluminum Trim

12’ 0”

Insulated Panels

Bi-Folding Hinge

Mounted Track

15’ 3”

Visual Connection: (Ground to Sky)

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User Manipulation:

Viewport Understanding:

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 5

Zone 4

Zone 3

Section A Section B Section C

Back

6” Buffer

Zone 2 Section A

Open

Section B Section C

5’ 4”

6” Buffer 3’ 10”

Close

Inhabitants are able to overide the engineered orrientation of the modules through various tablet like interfaces placed in numerous spots across a floor level. The user is given the ability to select a zone in which they want to overide the existing configuration to their desired preferance.

East/West Operation:

Blanketing:

9-5 Work Day Kinetic Facade operates as intended, Engineered Orrientation or changes to conform to User Overridden Position

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End of Shift Kinetic Facade modules all go into the closed position visually displaying the work day is finished and preventing unwanted heat loss or

Through the Night The facade will remain in the closed position till the following work day begins

E A

S

T

EQ U IN O X

WIN TER SO LST IC E

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A M

S UMMER SOL STI CE

S

O

T

H

EQ U IN O X

WIN TER SO LST IC E

1 2

P M

S UMMER SOL STI CE

U

W

EQ U IN O X

T WIN TER SO LST IC E

3

P M

S UMMER SOL STI CE

E S

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Kinetic Intervention: Focus Area (Filtered Lighting)

Description: The following kinetic intervention has a strong focus on filtered light typically present in nature. Leaves on trees can cast amazing patterns of light when passing through to the ground, with that being said, this intervention aims to achieve a similar sense of lighting. The modules are these lightweight fabrics that are kept in constant tension while also having the ability to open and close according to the desired solar shading. This intervention is really focused on engaging users to a nature-like experience from the inside and out. With the outside acting as a vertical extension of Rittenhouse Park.

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Module Characteristics/Transformation: 3’ 4” Wire Feed Tensile Wire

Fabric Edge

Lightweight Fabric

2’ 6”

Framing

Panels are gradually raised

Wires remain in tension due to the wire feed gradually being lowered through a motor

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Reasons for Manual Manipulation:

Worker enjoys the sunlight filling up his work space

Replicating Filtered Tree Ligting:

Extension of Rittenhouse Park: Conference wanted to have light partially fill us space

Kinetic Facade system carries on the sybolism of foliage

The Southern face of the parking Presentation is going on,

garage is covered with a living

decided no light

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was needed

green wall to extend the park

E

A

S

T

E Q U IN O X

W IN T E R S O L S T IC E

9

A M

S U M M E R S O L S T IC E

S

O

T

H

E Q U IN O X

W IN T E R S O L S T IC E

1 2

P M

S U M M E R S O L S T IC E

U

W

S

E Q U IN O X

T W IN T E R S O L S T IC E

3

P M

S U M M E R S O L S T IC E

E

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Opinion Based Comparisons

Dynamic Metamorphosis

User Viewport

Filtered Lighting

TBD

TBD

TBD

Dynamics:

Aesthetics:

User Manipulation:

Casted Shadows:

Complexity:

Energy Reduction:

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Closing Remarks: Through the development of this thesis, I have learned a great deal of knowledge. I got a better understanding the impacts buildings really have on our climate, understood how to develop potential kinectic structures, and how revamping an existing building could prove to be more beneficial than building an entirely new one. My explorations in terms of kinetic designs are by no means the perfect solution, but they each hold valuable attributes to be quite successful. If having put more time into the overall thesis, I would like to develop an effective way to calculate how well each of these designs impact the energy reduction of the building to really see their effectiveness. Additionally, I had the intentions of testing my thesis in multiple climate zones that are vastly different. The two other sites would have been in Nuuk, Greenland which is a Polar Climate and Dubai, United Arab Emirates which is considered a Tropical Desert. Lastly, another aspiration I had when designing these interventions was to have them not only deal with light, but also capture rainwater as well.

After all that has been said and done, the need to find sustainable solutions is a must in the present day. Climate change is affecting us slowly but surely as time ticks on. The data provided by NASA is quite scary to think about and will only get worse if nothing is taken into account. We, as humans, are fully capable of changing our ways of life to help the cause. We just need individuals to push forward ideas that will effectively make strides towards a better tomorrow. This is why case studies like the Arab World Institute and the North House really caught my eye. The architects had a vision and provided us with fundamental foundation elements to push the idea further and exceed their potential. This is why I want to pursue this demanding element of design that we are now heavily influenced to take action and accountability on. The proposed design of an Kinetic facade element is my vision of a better tomorrow. It is a design that can offer immense potential for the world of architecture and the capabilities of fighting back against the changes to the climate our previous actions have brought upon us. As mentioned earlier, this design won’t be the sole cause for reversing the climate crisis, but it can surely benefit us now as a prototype. My goal is to promote a future worry free of these issues and hopefully act as a foundation for others as the case studies I displayed were for me. Here is to a Better Tomorrow!

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