ARCH 655_Project 2

ARCH 655_Project 2

Parametric modeling through algorithms and scripting

Watch project Video:

 

In this project, I would like to complete my previous project with some modification. In the Previous project the opening of the modules were controlesd by an attractor point inside the 3*# hexagon module. And then the module was morphed on the facade. However in this project the openings are controled by sun vector. The sun vector can change each time and generate different patterns.In this project, each opening has a specific value which is different from others. The shape  and the amount of the opening depends on the angle between the normal vector that passes through the center of the opening and the sun vector at that moment.

Here is the demonstration of the sun path, using ladybug.

Sun vectors:

For this project, I needed a unique time to adjust the openings based on the angle. However, the time can change and make different patterns.

Each time the hexagon on the facade will be scaled and moved based on the cos (theta), in which theta is the angle between the normal vector and the sun vector.

First, an ellipse curve is extruded, then the hexagons are generated on the extruded surface through lunchbox. Then the following python script, the list of the cos(theta) between each normal vector and the sun vector is calculated. 

The output of this node is a list of values of cos{theta). This output is remapped to get new set of values as the scale factor. The reverse amount will be used as motion direction for moving the scaled geometries.

Galapagos part:
For the fitness function, a ladybug component of radiation analysis is used.
Radiation analysis node calculates the radiation energy on a certain surface in one year.  The base plan surface of the ellipse is used as the input geometry. The opening geometries are used as shading input.

Each time that the scale factor changes, a new set of openings will be generated. and will be given as an input to the "radiation analysis" component . and the component will generate a new set of values.
based on the grid size, each time the radiation result gives 1275 values which demonstrate the radiation energy in kWh/m2 ( yearly) which demonstrate the solar radiation on the ellipse plan due to the openings of the facade.

Note:
The amount of desired radiation energy depends on design intention and also other parameters in terms of heating and cooling, however, in this example an arbitrary range of 50 to 80 (kwh/m2) is chosen to only test the optimization part with Galapagos.
The goal of the fitness function is to achieve the maximum number of values of radiation in the
range of  50 to 80 kwh/m2  for the ground plan of the ellipse.

Galapagos part:
The cells that already are scaled and moved due to the theta (the angle between the normal of each surface and sun vector). These cells are given as an input to be scaled again.
This time the scale factor is given to Galapagos as a genome. The fitness function is a list of numbers which are basically the radiation energy of the grids on the ellipse plan due to the openings of the facade. In this example, I wanted to maximize the fitness function.

ARCH 655_Project 1

ARCH 655_Project 1

Chameleon Biomimetic Mixed-Use Office Building

WWF Architects Designs 

Office Building For 3D

First prize winning competition project

Dubai

Year: 2015

GFA: 17,716 m²

Use: mixed-use building, office

Architecture Team: Hannes Werner |Javier Angel |Wolfgang Regner I Rima Obeid | Marina Eremija

Facade Design: Wisam Allami | Hatem Al Khafaji

3D Visualization: Hatem Al Khafaji | Josephus Taboada

"The ‘chameleon’ is a prize-winning competition proposal for a mixed-use office building by Dubai-based wanders Werner Falasi consulting architects. the design was developed after a thorough site analysis and is predominately concerned with principles of bio-mimicry. for example, the hexagonal shapes that dominate the façades are derived from cell structures. the office also draws from, as you may have guessed, the chameleon and its highly-adaptable skin." ( design boom)

"The latter has several connections to building elements, including nighttime LED illumination and integrated thermo-regulation. climate control is accomplished through smart façade units — i.e. the hexagons — which mechanically adapt to the sun’s trajectory. when receiving too much heat, each component closes to seal the structure. likewise, when too cold, or dark, they open." ( design boom)
"The office has fixed PV nano cells located in portions of exterior walls that collect sunlight throughout the day. the energy that isn’t expended for the building’s daytime needs is used to illuminate thousands of LEDs at night. this is regarded as a mirror of the structure’s dynamic inner activity, the animal itself, and on a more conceptual level, the collective, constantly changing mood of its inhabitants. " ( design boom)

To see the images and renders of the project please click on the supporting links:
chameleon bio-mimetic mixed-use office building

chameleon bio-mimetic mixed-use office building

Grasshopper modeling of the Project:

The project paneling starts with a module of 3*3 hexagon cells that contains 54 triangles. the triangles are then scaled and moved based on their centers' distance from an arbitrary attractor point. 
The project is challenging in terms of creating an appropriate data structure to reach the desired result.

The module has to be trimmed properly to be mapped and replicated on any surface without any gap.
The same process is done to make the Structural frame and the glass frame.

 The same process is done to make the Structural frame and the glass frame.

The last step is to map and replicate the modules on the desired surface. In order to solve the problem on the edges on one hand and control the whole model parametrically, on the other hand, the plan curve needs to be a curve without knots. and the surface needs to be detected as one whole surface. In this case, all edges are filleted to match the rule.  The module could be mapped and replicated on any surface that has the mentioned characteristics in a parametric way.

All the modules are connected into the morph_box component. 

The proportion of the V and U are dependent on the proportion of the bounding box and the proportion of the length to hight of the surface (building). Then everything could change parametrically.

Watch the project video:
Please CLICK HERE  to watch the video of the project