ARCH 689 Final Project
Professor Wei Yan

Controlling the Visibility of the Shading Elements Regarding Daylight 

Introduction

Digital modeling and visualization of architectural buildings has become the benchmark in the work of architects and is inevitable in architectural education (Pun, 2010). From the unique 2-D programs used for drawing architectural designs, the software used for computer-assisted design has now turned into smart 3-D software packages based on parametric modeling. These new potentials have led to new activities in architecture and illustrated the field of nonstandard architecture (Stavric, 2011). Linking the parametric modeling to scientific issues in architecture such as sustainability can help designers to utilize software more practically. 

The Concept

This project aims to link grasshopper parametric model to day-lighting based on an adoptable facade  The parametric model has a shading element which is parametric in geometry itself. In this phase of modeling, sun direction linked to the skin of building to control the shading elements visibility. The idea is to make the panels which are on the direction of sun completely shaded. The openness of panels are adaptable based on their angle from sun.

Figure 1. Quick render, controlling the visibility of panels

Figure 2. Quick render, controlling the visibility of panels

The Implication of the Idea, Using Grasshopper and Python 

Figure 3. I have started with the loft from the project one which was a parametric model. 

Figure 4. Firs of all I have defined a curve and a point on it. 

Figure 5. The points from four vertexes of square divided mesh will be averaged by the python codes.

Figure 6. The python code will help to define the direction of the line from sun to the center of each surface.




Figure 7. The code in this step occlude the surfaces that are on the back side of shape.




Figure 8. In this phase the script make a unique list from all points.



Figure 9. This part visualize all the panels which their normal on the direction of sun. In addition, this script make panels which have close angle factor to the sun direction half open.




Figure 10. This set of nodes illustrate some horizontal lines to make the sense of division in high-rise building more visual.

Figure 11. Quick render, controlling the visibility of panels

Figure 12. Quick render, controlling the visibility of panels

Figure 13. Quick render, controlling the visibility of panels

References: 

Pun, Siu-Kay (2010)  Facilitate Learning of Visual Language Skills in Engineering Students, 9th WSEAS International Conference on Education and Education technology ( EDU ’10) in Secected Topic in Education Educational Technology, Ed. Fujita, H., Sasaki J.,  pp.77-82

Stavric, M., & Marina, O. (2011) . Parametric modeling for advanced architecture. International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Informatic. 5. 9-16. 

Arch 689, Project 1

Professor Wei Yan

Form Generation in High-Rise Buildings Using Parametric Modeling

Al Bahar Tower, Abu Dhabi

Description:

Al Bahar Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Completion Date: June, 2012

Height: 145 meters

Stories: 29

Use: Office

Owner: Abu Dhabi Investment Council

Design Architect: Aedas Architects Ltd

Associate Architect: Diar Consult

Structural Engineer: Arup

MEP Engineer: Arup

Project Manager: Mace International

The Al Bahar Tower’s innovative dynamic façade opens and closes in response to the movement of the sun, reducing solar gain by more than 50 percent, creating a more comfortable internal environment for occupants and producing a distinctive external aesthetic which helps to define the building as a gateway to the UAE capital. The façade was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Islamic “mashrabiya”: a popular form of wooden lattice screen found in vernacular Islamic architecture and used as a device for achieving privacy while reducing glare and solar gain (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, 2013).

“The dynamic façade on Al Bahar, computer-controlled to respond to optimal solar and light conditions, has never been achieved on this scale before. In addition, the expression of this outer skin seems to firmly root the building in its cultural context (Chris Wilkinson, Awards Juror, Wilkinson Eyre Architects).”

The skin of this building could be divided by these elements: 

Step 1: Plan Geometry

In this phase, a model generated for changing the size of baseline and the numbers of vertexes for the plan geometry. 

Step 2: Form Generation

On this phase the main loft generated from the previous designed Poly-line.
 

Step 3: Form Structure

  
The following images demonstrate the nodes for finding specific points on the structure and connecting them through a cull pattern for the design of structure of the building. 
                                        

Step 4: Applying Pattern to the Skin 

This step illustrate the way of applying a pattern to the surface of the model. 

Step 5: Shading Element form generation

The mathematical nodes create the shading element as demonstrated in the following pictures. The parametric model enable designer to customize the openness of the form. On the next part of the project this nodes will be connected to the daylighting software. Applying this heavy module to the whole loft is considered challenging part in this project. 

Step 6: Kangaroo

Kangaroo nodes enable the parametric model to react to the lateral load. 

Step 7: Analysis

In the analysis section, the change in the lateral loads shows with a variation of the color. In addition, area of the whole building and the area of each separate floor are measured through this step. 

April 26, 2011

I have experienced modeling the Salk Institute designed by Louis Kahn in the Revit as my first project of Building Information Modeling (BIM). In the project 1, I have designed a parametric model for the windows which can be considered as main architecture feature of Salk Institute. I have created an adoptable family which can act in both width and height. Also, the elements of this window have mathematical relationship, and through changing one of these items, all of the other elements such as the area of glass part, number of array, and the frame width can change

Figure 1: Salk Institute

Figure 2: Divided panels

 

Through learning the C# and API programing, I have been encouraged to add more feature to this family for the project 2. Adoptability of the shading area and having the smart windows are main concepts of this project. The shading part of this window has been divided to two different parts included different materials: the wood squares and glass squares.  

Figure 3: Room in different sizes

Figure 4: Part of the plan of Salk Institute

As shown, the shading part has 25 squares and the idea is controlling the transparency of this window in two different ways. 

 

My idea is to control visibility of these squares' materials and make a relationship between the number of glass parts of this window and the room area. As shown, the idea is that rooms in different size and same width should not have same amount of sun light, and through this windows design, we can have a balance between glass parts and wood parts depending on the room size.

Figure 5: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 6: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 7: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 8: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 9: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 10: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 11: Using API programming for controlling the amount of light in each room

Figure 12: Salk Institute

Figure 13: C# partitions

 

Figure 14: C# partition 2

Figure 15: C# partition 3

Figure 16: C# partition 4

Figure 17: Exterior view

Figure 18: Interior view