Pneumatic Façade Systems
Photo credit Felix Mallinder
Author Felix Mallinder
This project aims to answer the question: How can pattern logic influence volume variations in pneumatic façade systems?
High-tech architectural systems look to solve environmental challenges through performative structures. The Media TIC building in Barcelona is a prime example of this, where a pneumatic façade system creates morphological change, inflating ETFE pillows, to manipulate the effects of environmental factors such as light and heat exchanges. This aspect of performance architecture is result-driven, to lower co2 emissions and energy demands, hence it’s intuitive that design optimisation of such systems will be able to improve the effectiveness and aid the environmental sustainability.
This project investigates how the pattern formation of these systems affects the volume and efficiencies of inflation. To do so, several pattern generation systems are scripted in Grasshopper and Python. Each system retains its logic, but all of them are bound together by a set of simplistic parameters. This allows for flexibility through exploratory variations. Each pattern iteration divides a surface and then, using Kangaroo, a physics plug-in for Grasshopper, the resultant surface is inflated to reveal the system’s form. Each design instance can be tested for total volume and dispersion of volume across the system, and this is the method used throughout iteration experiments.
To expand on the testing, design instances are tested against situational data, an example of heat loss mapping is compared to a selection of designs, and quantitative results which are found for the performance of each system in context. The workflow produced from pattern parameters to system results, shows how the adoption of parametricism and optimisation into the design process can improve the effectiveness of high-tech, environmental and performance architecture.
From the context testing, four design instances were selected, which are exhibited here – through elastic resin models and situational renders. These designs were chosen as explorative results and not formative conclusions. This format of results embodies the product of this research, there is no single solution but the potential for infinite design iterations, provided by one system for many contexts.
