Pinecone Responsive Facade System
Photo credit Aashish Sapkota // Adeyinka Adewoyin
Author Aashish Sapkota // Adeyinka Adewoyin
The ability to react to external environmental factors to protect the seeds inside.
Pinecones have been commonly used to predict the weather; if rain and humidity are in the air, the scales will clamp up overlapping one another and sealing the cone into a tight ball. Opening up when the conditions are dry and windy allowing the seeds to be carried a greater distance.
Pine cone scales have multiple layers with different qualities. The outermost side of the scale (which faces downward when the scales are open) is made of a layer of loosely packed, stretchable cells. The inner layer (facing upward when the scales are open) is made of stiff fibres tightly packed like cables.
