Project 4A - Interim - Design Development

Some images from the interim presentation. The main idea was to convey the essential concept of the exterior facade system and its direct relation to the interior facade system as well as the concept of the open court and oculus, emphasizing the importance of visibility and transparency between programmatic elements in the design.

The first two images are initial facade studies undertaken for purposes of designing the mock up model and for exploring the effects of exterior multi-hued panels on the interior of the facade.





The next series of images shows some massing explorations that led to the manipulation of the exterior facade in relation to the interior facade and building envelope to insure proper distribution of daylight and sunlight based on programmatic requirements and solar orientation of the building.

North - Maximize daylight.


East - This is the side most of the colored panels will be found on. Minimize morning glare, maximize translucency. The north side of this facade is where the cafeteria will be and is raised to allow for it to open up to the exterior.


South - Minimize direct sunlight, shade and raise facade to expose main entrance to the complex and allow southernly winds to sweep in and ventilate the interior.


The steel framing skeleton for the exterior facade system. I decided to separate it from the building in order to allow maximal flexibility to the interior structure which has yet to be fully developed and in order to isolate the heat gain of the steel on the exterior from the interior building envelopes.


Facade system assembly - This exploded axonometric shows the facade system assembly on the east facade from exterior to interior:
Multi-hued polycarbonate panels
Spider connection system
Light-weight steel web
Heavy-weight steel support system
Double pane windows with reflective frame to deflect light into the interior
Steel framed polycarbonate panel system interior facade
Light-weight concrete slabs (200mm)
Interior partition system (likely aluminum framing)


The building on site (pre-landscaping)


A render of the building on site (pre-addition of colored panels)


Finally, a glimpse into the next and final phase of the design development, a proposed building plan program layout. This is a work in progress.

Project 4A - Interim - Model

Some images of the mock up model built for the interim presentation in the process of building and of the final testing of the model for the desired effect, a transferring of defused multi-hued light into the interior through the translucent facade.
Model scale is 1:5.

Step 1 - Due to the double curve of the facade system, individual components had to be laser cut and carefully kept track of.


Step 1.1 - Smaller individual component (the spider connections) had to be assembled. Originally these were 3D printed but as those prints were flawed, I assembled these from the remains of the 3D print and quickly laser cut pieces.


Step 2 - The outer facade grid is assembled. Note the heat gun in the background. This was used for curving the plexi used for the interior facade mock up in a time consuming process (use a vacuum form in the future if you have one people).


Step 3 - The mock panels are attached to the grid via the connections.


Step 4 - Not really a step, its just the assembled model. Note the curved translucent 3 mm plexi behind the outer facade. This is the interior facade mock up.


Step 5 - Testing. In order to better replicate the comparative intensity of the sun and to highlight the desired effect, the model was laced in a dark room with a direct light shining on it. The effect can clearly be seen.


Step 5.1 - What it looks like from up close looking at one of the opening that will eventually be in the interior facade for natural ventilation.


Step 5.2 - Up close at the opening, looking out onto the exterior facade at dusk.

Facade!

As mentioned in my last post, I am looking into facades which are able to filter and control daylight while also providing shading and protection from the desert sun.

Looking to a number of Renzo Piano’s projects for inspiration I went through a series of iterations which effectively act to let in daylight while minimizing both glare and heat gain.

Initial concepts were such that I was looking into a number of individual fins and components, but with the risk of it looking too bulky/distracting with all the connections I abandon it in search of cleaner lines. What I did like about this initial concept was the idea of these fins acting as ‘light scoops’, which led to the second iteration of a more curvilinear form which only allowed light in from certain directions-as shown on the top left.

Amalgamating these concepts, I have developed a light curvilinear form which peels away from the building where day lighting and views may be desired while also creating a shade. Those areas of the façade which lay flat against the building act as a double skin, reflecting sunlight away from the building. In suggesting these panels be perforated metal, it is intended that vision into the building will be restricted during the day time hours with exception to the ‘peeled away’ areas while revealing the activities when lit from within during the night-effectively highlighting the activity/creating a stage.

And everything comes together...

Despite physically feeling less than 100%, I'm feeling a heck of a lot better about where I'm headed with my 'facade treatment', if I may.

I have located the training area of my facility on the highway side of our site as the large facade would best suit the scale of the freeway. (Smaller programmatic elements face the smaller street on the east.) Initially I wanted the acrobatics to be seen through the facade from the highway. However, considering the height of a person and the speed at which the cars are driving by... not such a great idea. Plus - I don't consider the highway a 'nice view' and therefore transparent glass is unnecessary. In addition to all this, a feature of my first iteration was to be panels that rotated and reflected sunlight into the training centre - kind of creating a 'passive light show'.

Keeping all this in mind, and speaking with Vince, I have moved on to a facade which diffuses light through channel glass. This type of glass allows daylight to pass through without the solar heat gain. This article has sold me on its performance in the desert: "...was required by building code to meet a very high level of energy efficiency to deal with the extreme high and low temperatures of the desert. The channel glass definitely helps with that." Furthermore, that passive light show I mentioned? With the channel glass, silhouettes of the acrobats will be projected (and thus enlarged) on the facade, as seen from the exterior. It reminds me of the Feist show I saw at Massey Hall (recently analyzed for Digital Tools, whoooaaa the connections!) where the only 'effects' used were beads, paint, cardboard etc. projected onto a backdrop by your typical school projector. (See images below)

Extensive use of channel glass at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art by Steven Holl Architects

Feist concert 'effects'

Oh, and remember how my whole building design concept was 'spatial awareness'/'movement of the body'? I'm happy that my facade (maybe used on interior elements too?) now reinforces that. Feeling a bit too relieved?... Probably.