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Form of Information: A Digital Approach Toward Abandoned and Heritage Buildings

Diriyah Global Seminar Proposal Poster Presentation

Arch. Turki Alhouti Architectural Design Research During my Graduate Studies at The University of Pennsylvania. Ministry of Culture’s Scholarship Program.

University of Pennsylvania

Form of Info.

Media Space Research Adviser: Na Wei | Summer 22 Location: Philadelphia. PA Display in ACADIA Exhibition 2022.

Project Information:

Proposal / Project Description 500 Words:

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TThe shift from energy transformation to information

The research also deals with the principles of digital fabrication in an urban setting. As the world grapples with the escalating energy demands of conventional cooling systems, the quest for sustainable alternatives intensifies.

Clay, a naturally abundant and versatile material, emerges as a promising solution, offering passive cooling strategies that harmonize with the environment. Recent advancements in robotics have enabled the creation of intricate clay elements with enhanced cooling properties, paving the way for innovative natural cooling systems.

These elements, meticulously crafted by robotic hands, capitalize on clay’s inherent thermal properties, effectively insulating and absorbing heat.

The Richmond Station holds local and global significance in the realm of architecture as one of the foremost central power stations erected in the United States in the decade following World War I. Upon its completion in 1915, it stood as the largest and most efficient power plant in the world. It serves as an exemplary instance of the Beaux Arts style applied to a monumental structure of its kind— the power station. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), responsible for enforcing federal historic preservation regulations in Pennsylvania, seeks to influence the National Register nomination of Richmond Station. We eagerly anticipate how our research can contribute to Richmond Station’s nomination, shaping the future of conservation and restoration efforts and adaptive reuse.

These examples merely showcase the vast potential of robotics-created clay elements in environmental natural cooling. As research continues to advance, we can anticipate even more groundbreaking applications that harness clay’s inherent properties to achieve sustainable cooling solutions. We aim to inspire positive change in our cities to have greater cultural, social, environmental, and economic impacts by integrating digital fabrication technologies into historical-abandoned buildings and embracing the notion of urban acupuncture.

final research project, “Form of Information: A Digital Approach Toward Abandoned and Heritage Buildings” was selected for the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design faculty/students exhibition at the ACADIA 2022 (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture), The Hybrids & Haecceities Architecture Conference.

Project Name: Form of Information, A Digital Approach Toward Abandoned and Heritage Buildings.

Research Adviser: Na Wei Director of Ms.AAD: Ali Rahim Teaching Assistant: Sharvari Mhatre Robotic Lab Associate: Riley Studebaker Co-authored with Suwei Wang

processing in the digital age has fundamentally changed human expectations, behaviors, and communication.

Our response to this social dilemma is centered around the Richmond Power Generating Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, employing an alternative and digital approach. The digital age has left a significant impact on human civilization, culture, and the exchange of information, influencing architectural design in numerous ways. The architectural field has experienced various transformations due to the digital revolution, aligning with new principles for preserving historically abandoned buildings and sites and protecting the environment.

The research approach involves renovating a portion of the historically abandoned site, focusing on the concept of urban acupuncture. This transformation aims to turn it into a new social platform that aligns with the current era and serves as a gathering place for communication in the digital age. We have developed a methodology that can interact with the new robotics-created elements introduced on this site, intending to revolutionize the way we approach restoration. By restoring a segment of the site and introducing adaptive reuse, we initiate conversations and manipulate the urban fabric on a small scale, with the goal of generating broader social, environmental, and economic impacts.

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Form of Info.

Robotic Fabrication Lab

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Richmond Generating Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Form of Info.

Exterior Perspective + Site 4301 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19137

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Elevation

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Interior Perspective + Long Section

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Detailed Section

Form of Info.

Plan + Interior Perspective + Robotic Fabrication and Tools + Environmental Diagram

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4’x4’x5’ Physical Model

Form of Info.

Final Poster Presentation + Physical Model

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I am considering incorporating some robotics-printed physical models to accompany the poster at the Diriyah Global Seminar.

Form of Info.

University of Pennsylvania’s Faculty/Students Exhibition at ACADIA 2022

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Robotic Fabrication Lab

Thank you.

Arch. Turki Alhouti E: Turkibn222@gmail.com | M: +966503985977

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