Adaptive façade is a building exterior that can change in response to its surrounding environment to maximize its performance. In this way, the 'skin' of the building is not static, but dynamic and can transform according to requirements.
Location : New Delhi, India
Temperature (℃)
Dry bulb mean
Wet bulb mean Global horz
Radiation (wh/sq.m)
Direct normal
Diffuse
Cooling, add Dehumidification (3552hrs)
Sun Shading of Windows (2299 hrs)
Internal Heat Gain (1625 hrs)
Two-stage Evaporative Cooling (1322 hrs)
Fan-Forced Ventilation Cooling (943 hrs)
Passive Solar Direct Gain High Mass (809 hrs)
Heating, add Humidification (678 hrs)
Dehumidification only (280hrs)
Inference- We need a system which blocks sunlight in interiors during summers and allow it during cold temperature. This will decrease heating and cooling loads giving comfortable interiors.
Nyctinasty is the circadian rhythmic nastic movement of higher plants in response to the onset of darkness, or a plant "sleeping" Nyctinastic movements are associated with diurnal light and temperature changes and controlled by the circadian clock
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 4
Parameterizing
Origami Pattern
Folding Plan
Simulating the folding pattern
Final pattern - top
Final pattern - bottom
Second iteration with improvements
Inner mechanism with shading attached
Mechanism 1 : Based on principle of Autovents for Greenhouses
(Paraffin wax + spring system)
Spring helps bring back the system once the wax is cold again
(Paraffin wax + spring system)
Cool - 5° C
Warm - 35° C
Solid wax
Liquid wax
(Expands)
Metal tube
Metal tube
Metal rod
Metal Rod (Being pushed outside By the wax)
Wax needs a large volume to expand sufficiently
In thicker volumes, the outer layers act as self-insulating and prevents heat from reaching inside
The expansion and phase-change of wax is a slow process
The wax container needs to be expandable as well as sealed, increasing chances of leakage
Mechanism 2 : Electromagnet based ( Electromagnet + Heat switch)
the piston move the gears and shading mechanism is engaged
radiation from sun heats the heatswitch above 30 degrees and activates the circuit
power runs through the electromagnet and it pulls the piston towards it
as the circuit completes, current from the power source is drawn
Top Rail
Customized gear+ hands
Metal base (without electricity)
Heat switch (incomplete circuit)
Top
Customized gear+ hands
Rail
Metal base (Working as an electromagnet)
Heat switch (Completes circuit)
1. Gear-based inner mechanism
2. Heat switch
3. Battery
4. Piston
5. Screw
6. Electromagnet
7. Cable
PROBLEM : The 3d printed model has a very rough surface. Therefore it creates too much friction for the piston to move freely inside the tube.
SOLUTION : This situation was alleviated by sanding all the surfaces that have to come into contact with one another.
PROBLEM : The Electromagnet moves towards the piston as the piston is moving towards the magnet.
SOLUTION : This was corrected by creating a proper housing inside the tube and fixing the magnet in place with adhesive.
PROBLEM : The mechanism is not activated by temperature change.
SOLUTION : Added a heat-switch to complete the circuit.
arms
grid-attachment
wire-grid
heat-switch
piston
electromagnet
Fabric Solar cells can be used to generate electricity for supporting the mechanism and produce additional energy for the building. Due to its adaptive nature and concave form, it will be an efficient solution for producing energy.
Mounting Detail : Cables to standard stick-curtain wall
Isometric detail
Sun-shading for indoor comfort
Analysis based on average annual radiation from 5 am to 6 pm
Building Scale
Such patterns may look like the result of extrasensory communication, but they’re in fact the product of emergent animal group behaviour known as flocking. Every change of direction comes not as a result of an individual member of the flock, but rather of the snap decisions made by those individuals in response to the movements of their neighbours.
Building Scale
Each element can independently open and close according to temperature or be controlled by custom software running a flocking algorithm.
