Case studies

Case studies

Al Bahar Towers

Helio Trace Centre

SDU Campus Kolding

One ocean - Thematic Pavilion

Sean godsell RMIT design hub

Case study 1. Al Bahar Towers – External Automated Shading System (2012) Introduction Abu Dhabi has a lot of new high-rise buildings, because it is a desert and it has hot arid climate (extremely sunny with temperatures and humidity reaching up to 49 C and 100% respectively during summer); some design teams started to find an exclusive way for reducing their carbon footprint as a concern for sustainability and environmental influence.

Al Bahar Towers

Project Description Country: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Climate: Hot Arid climate Designer: Aedas Architects Building Function: Office Building Pattern system: triangular automated shading system Pattern features: Shading oriented strategy, filtering light. Facade construction system: Steel structural frame, glass curtain wall Urban context: Eastern Ring Road, in the heart of Abu Dhabi Application in project: External facades Other possible applications: Exterior facades

Concept The design is driven from its context, taking into account environment, tradition, and technology. The designer succeeded to convert design concept with formally, functionally, and motional aspects to a real design, inspired by Mashrabia and Mangrove Flower. Al Bahar Towers was made for creating an interesting façade, an efficient shading system, reducing solar gain, reducing glare, and providing privacy. Al Bahar Towers has made a modern interpretation for “Mashrabia”.

Mangrove flower

A sample of Mashrabiya

The “Mashrabia” at Al Bahar Towers consist of a series of transparent umbrella-like modules that open and close in response to the sun’s path. Every one of the two towers contains more than one thousand individual shading devices.

Pattern Technology Each unit comprises a series of stretched PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) panels and is driven by a linear actuator that will progressively open and close once per day in response to a pre-programmed sequence that has been calculated to prevent direct sunlight from striking the façade and to limit direct solar gain to a maximum of 400 watts per linear meter. The entire installation is protected by a variety of sensors that will open the units in the event of overcast conditions or high winds. The effects of this system are comprehensive: reduced glare, improved daylight penetration, less reliance on artificial lighting, and over 50% reduction in solar gain, which results in a reduction of CO2 emissions by 1,750 tonnes per year. (Arup, 2012).

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Case study Al Bahar Towers – External Automated Shading System (2012) Shading system Al Bahar Towers façade is controlled by a computer for responding to ideal solar and light situations. The dynamic solar screen is a unique automated feature that is comprised of triangular units. Like origami umbrellas, these dynamic shading elements unfold to various angles in response to the movement of the sun to optimize the solar exposure of the facade. The folding system transforms the shading screen from a seamless veil into a lattice-like pattern that, when necessary, provides either shade or light. This reduces solar glare, while providing better visibility by avoiding dark tinted glass and internal blinds that distort the appearance of the surrounding view. This system offers a better admission of natural diffused light. This reduces the use of artificial light and the associated energy costs. Aedas team applied innovative computational design skills in supporting the project which was parametric design for the kinetic façade.

Materials The exceptional levels of transparency adopted for the towers and the resulting increased daylighting were made possible by a careful selection of the mesh material of the movable Mashrabiya shading system sitting in front of the façade. PTFE-coated glass fibre mesh was identified as the most durable and best-performing solution. PTFE fiberglass coating is capable of withstanding high temperatures and it is a ‘self-cleaning’ fabric, which helps reducing cleaning and maintenance time. The final fabric presented an open area of 15% and a light transmission of 25%.

Mashrabiya units distribution There are 1049 units fitted to each of the towers covering the East, South and West zones. When a facade zone is subjected to direct sunlight, the Mashrabiya units in that zone will unfold into a closed state providing shading to the inner glazing skin. As the sun moves around the building each Mashrabiya unit will progressively open. The goal of the dynamic mashrabiya solar screen is to block direct solar rays from landing inside occupied spaces during working hours, from 09:00 till 17:00. This reduces solar gain and controls solar glare. B -2

Case study Al Bahar Towers – External Automated Shading System (2012) Envelope layers The envelope of the building is made of a weather-tight glass curtain-wall and the mashrabiya dynamic solar screen. The curtain-wall is comprised of unitized panels with a floor-to-floor height of 4200mm and a variable width of 900mm to 1200mm. From floor to ceiling the vision area of the curtain-wall spans 3100mm. The innovative solar screen is spaced 2000mm from the surface of the curtain-wall. The mashrabiya have stainless steel supporting frames, aluminum dynamic frames, and fiberglass mesh infill. Each umbrella-like device is assembled as a unitized system 4200mm in height and varying between 3600mm and 5400mm in width. Each unit is sub-divided into six triangular frames that unfold through a centrally positioned actuator and piston. The largest unit weighs around 625 kg.

Benefits of the shading system The presence of a movable external shading helps to significantly reduce the solar radiation, only when and where it is needed. Assuming as a benchmark a glazed envelope achieving a g-value (solar control) of 0.20 and a light transmission of 25-30% - common figures in the region -, the combined shading and glazing systems adopted in the Al Bahr Towers reduces the solar gains by more than 50%, achieving a much higher level of light transmission. A preliminary assessment carried out during the design phase showed how the external Mashrabiya helped reduce the capital cost of the cooling system by approximately 15%, achieving a 20% electricity load saving as a result of the smaller cooling plants.

Comparison between common systems and dynamic Mashrabyia system

Control software Siemens’s well-established platform was used to develop the control software and Human/Machine Interface (HMI) of the Al-Bahr Towers dynamic solar screen. An embedded pre-set program simulates the movement of the sun and deploys the mashrabiya units in corresponding folding configurations. The HMI allows manual intervention of the operator in case of emergency, maintenance requirement, or for ceremonial/demonstration purposes. Each unit has a unique location and ID on the screen, which is linked to positioning sensors located in the actuator of each unit. The software is linked to three main sensors located at the top of each tower; 1) light 2) wind and 3) rain. B -3

Case study Al Bahar Towers – External Automated Shading System (2012) Benefits of the dynamic facade system These figures compare the cooling loads and carbon emissions between the mashrabiya and traditional envelope systems. Important Note: All figures and comparisons made in Figures consider the entire building consumptions, including areas that are completely unaffected by the presence of the mashrabiya system like basements and parking areas, podium, vertical transportation, data centres, WCs, back of house, kitchens and so on. If however, office working spaces are isolated from the rest of the building, the introduction of the mashrabiya screen can reduce energy consumption of those spaces in terms of lighting and cooling load requirements alone by up to 50%.

Quantitative benefits The following are measurable benefits of the innovative facade system. • 50% energy savings for office spaces alone, and up to 20% for the building overall • 20% reduction in carbon emission with up to 50% for office spaces use alone •15% reduction in overall plant size and capital cost • 20% reduction in materials and overall weight due to the highly fluid, rational and optimized design alone.

Carbon comparison with and without Mashrabiya

Qualitative benefits The following are non-measurable benefits of the innovative facade system: • improvement of user-comfort and improved physical and psychological well-being of occupants • the overall iconic identity of the building • Better naturally lit spaces through better admission of natural diffused light • Better visibility of external natural views, less use of obstructive and psychologically trapping blinds • Improved comfort by reducing heavy air conditioning loads and air draft • Provide the building with a unique identity, rooted to local heritage and environment • Provide a unique and entertaining feature both to occupants and passing-by public B -4

Case study 2. Helio Trace Centre of Architecture (2010) Introduction

Concept

Helio Trace Centre of Architecture facade concept has been done in a competition by a team of Adaptive Building Initiative, Merrill, Owings, Skidmore and the Permasteelisa Group. The aim of this collaboration was to develop a sophisticated building surrounding pattern that could influence contextual and environmental contributions informing a responsive kinetic curtain wall system. Architects and field specialists of this team envisioned a configuration that enhances the curtain wall performance regarding daylight and glare, and that decreases solar heat gain by 81%.

The main concept of Helio trace center is keeping the track of the sun path over the course of a day and a year. This design has both linguistic and biological generative system approaches because its morphology takes and organic transformation when expanding like shy plants, shy plant is a sensitive plant that shrinks or expanding itself when touched or shaken (Adams, 1972). In contrast with other system mechanisms; this kinetic pattern will expressively develop daylight whereas decreasing solar heat gain impacts on building residents.The system preserves excellent daylighting at the surrounding area while it eliminates glare, decreases peak solar heat gain by 81% on a yearly basis (Hoberman and Schwitter, 2008).

Helio Trace Centre of Architecture building

Project Description Country: New York, United States of America Climate: Humid subtropical climate Designer: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP Building Function: Office building Pattern system: Strata Pattern features: Decreasing of solar gain, Decrease the daytime use of artificial lights with daylight, and air conditioning with natural airflow, react to ecosystem, form and function Facade construction system: Kinetic curtain wall Urban context: Exterior wall Application in project: Southern facade Other possible applications: Exterior facades, roofs, canopies, integrated into glazing

Shape plant and modular units movement

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Case study 2. Helio Trace Centre of Architecture (2010) Pattern Technology and System layer Facade technology of Helio Trace Centre developed a worldwide design which was programmed to be carried out any place in the world, by adapting to location attributes, orientation, and sun path. It can be utilized to any reasonable building geometry by adjusting different curtain wall panels. Three elements formalize the system. Kinetic patterns shade on the building facade is linked to a pre-fabricated, thermally efficient building covering, which enable interior chilled ceiling plates usage that have a lower energy efficiency than other standard air conditioning solutions (Hoberman and Schwitter, 2008). Every adaptive shading unit of the kinetic façade has twelve pieces, four perpendicular and eight parallel units, each one has five metal sheets. The sheets expand and retract towards the center performing a pyramid shape. A small beams are welded with the sheets to keep the unit stable structurally. The pattern material has perforations with a suitable density and diameter that enables light and air to go through with a suitable amount.

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Case study 2. Helio Trace Centre of Architecture (2010) Shading system Helio Trace maintains the precise balance between shade and sun. A mobile external sunshade blocks out the rays when required, architects can modify the system to climate, sun path and processes schedules. Design team done wide solar analysis of Helio Trace system mechanisms with three objectives: to decrease glare, increase daylighting, and control solar heat gain. Glare studies (at the top), with baseline analysis at its left and enhanced analysis at its right. Daylight levels (at the middle) were adjusted to avoid extreme illumination (at middle left) which can be a reason of glare and to help increasing energy savings, also to provide user comfort. Finally, the problem of high solar gain (at bottom left) was analyzed regarding the systems external shades, all of them together can cut the peak solar gain by an expected 81 percent.

Mechanism Helio Trace centre has Strata technology that contains modular units, when retracted, the units hide within a single section of the module. When activated, the units extend to form a continuous surface that consists of a series of slices, and when retracted the units disappear, actuator movement is exactly like car wiper. B -7

Case study 3. SDU Campus Kolding Introduction Campus Kolding is the first university building in Denmark to meet stringent energy consumption demands described in 2015 building regulations and includes a range of other innovative sustainable technologies. The kolding campus is a new central plaza by the kolding river and will have an interaction with other educational institutions of the town. The shape and facades of the building showcase a dialogue between the people inside and the outside observer. The facade together with the inside of the building create a unique and varying expression. The triangular shape repeats itself from the facade through the different foors. (Henning Larsen, 2014).

Project Description Location: Kolding, Denmark Client: The Danish University and Property Agency Gross floor area: 13,700 m2 Year of construction: 2012 - 2014 The Kolding Campus center is a large multi-purpose facility meant to anchor classes and social spaces at the new University of Southern Denmark. The building is triangular in shape and is five floors tall. The project is designed to promote both group activities and also provide spaces for quiet contemplation and study. The project sets high sustainability standards in addition to creating a dynamic space for higher learning.

Type of assignment: University Building Architect: Henning Larsen ArchitectsEngineers: Orbicon Application of façade: Energy Control Climate type: Temprate climate B -8

Case study 3. SDU Campus Kolding Facade Technology, pattern and sustainable features The Kolding Campus features a number of sustainable elements. The facade provides solar shading. Water from a nearby river is used in the building’s cooling system. The building has a low energy ventilation system and solar cells. The facade is an integrated part of the building and together, they create a unique and varying expression. Inside in the fve foor high atrium, the displaced position of the staircases and access balconies creates a special dynamics where the triangular shape repeats its pattern in a continuous variety of positions up through the different floors.

The triangular shape was generated by the site. To create a building that changes throughout the year, becoming more open in the winter time, when there is less daylight, or more closed in late spring, when the sun is low, or at other problematic times of year, in terms of solar control. This reduces the heat load on the building, cutting the cooling requirement and energy consumption.

Pattern design and concept Kolding Campus is fitted with dynamic solar shading, which adjusts to the specific climate conditions and user patterns and provides optimal daylight and a comfortable indoor climate spaces along the façade. The perforation of the shutters is a light, organic pattern of round holes, which gives a dynamic effect in the facade seen from the outside and an exciting play of light seen from the inside. The facade design strikes the optimum balance between the amount of light and energy allowed to flow in and out, while at the same time providing varied views to the surroundings. B -9

Case study 3. SDU Campus Kolding Shading System The solar shading system consists of approx. 1,600 triangular shutters of perforated steel. They are mounted on the façade in a way which allows them to adjust to the changing daylight and desired inﬂflow of light. When the shutters are closed, they lie ﬂat along the façade, while they protrude from the façade when half-open or entirely open and provide the building with a very expressive appearance. The solar shading system is ftted with sensors which continuously measure light and heat levels and regulate the shutters mechanically by means of a small motor.

Responding to the sunlight, facade creates a butterfly effect for the building. Even fully closed shutters admit a controlled amount of natural light through a pattern of keyholes punctured through the aluminium. Many are linked together to create openings resembling amoeba or bacterial growth.

Benefits The mechanical facade is in fact a form of dynamic solar shading, comprising over 2,000 sensorcontrolled perforated aluminium shutters, which adjust to changing daylight and heat levels, and the behaviour of users inside, to create a comfortable working environment.The system is part of an ambitious environmental strategy involving a range of passive and active systems, designed to cut overall energy demand by 50% compared to buildings of a similar type in Denmark, and reduce annual energy consumption to just 36 kWh/m2/year. B -10

Case study 4. One Ocean - Thematic Pavilion EXPO (2012) Introduction The Thematic Pavilion is a major and permanent building for the Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South-Korea. The main design intent was to embody the Expo’s theme “The Living Ocean and Coast” and transform it into a multi-layered architectural experience. Therefore the Expo’s agenda, namely the responsible use of natural resources was not visually represented, but actually embedded into the building, e.g. through the sustainable climate design or the biomimetic approach of the kinetic façade.

Concept Soma Lima says: “We experience the Ocean mainly in two ways, as an endless surface and in an immersed perspective as depth. This plain/profound duality of the Ocean motivates the building’s spatial and organizational concept. Continuous surfaces twist from vertical to horizontal orientation and define all significant interior spaces. The vertical cones invite the visitor to immerse into the Thematic Exhibition. They evolve into horizontal levels that cover the foyer and become a flexible stage for the Best Practice Area. Continuous transitions between contrasting experiences also form the outer appearance of the Pavilion. Towards the sea the conglomeration of solid vertical cones define a new meandering coast line, while on the opposite side the pavilion develops out of the ground into an artificial roof–landscape with gardens and scenic paths. Project Description Architect: Soma Year: 2012 Function: Exhibition / thematic pavilion Surface: 5,657 m² Type of response: Active Climate type: humid subtropical climate (Cwa) Kinetic facade: Knippers Helbig, Stuttgart

Biomimetic approach The facade covers a total length of about 140 m, and is between 3 m and 13 m high. It consists of 108 kinetic lamellas, which are supported at the top and the bottom edge of the façade. The lamellas are made of glass fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), which combine high tensile strength with low bending stiffness, allowing for large reversible elastic deformations. The lamellas are moved by actuators on both the upper and lower edge of the FRP blade, which induce compression forces to create the complex elastic deformation. They reduce the distance between the two bearings and in this way induce a bending which results in a side rotation of the lamella.

The actuator of the lamellas is a screw spindle driven by a servomotor. A computer controlled bus-system allows the synchronization of the actuators. Each lamella can be addressed individually within a specific logic of movement to show different choreographies and operation modes. Upper and lower motors often work with opposite power requirements (driving – braking). Therefore generated energy can be fed back into the local system to save energy.The material performance of the biomimetic lamellas produces an interrelated effect of geometry, movement and light: The longer the single lamella – the wider the angle of opening – the bigger the area affected by light. B -11

Case study 4. One Ocean - Thematic Pavilion EXPO (2012) Facade and pattern design The architectural effect is a smoothly moving facade that is seamlessly integrated into the overall continuous skin of the pavilion.The facade consists of 108 kinetic lamellas that are supported at the top and the bottom edge. Beside their function to control light conditions the moving lamellas create animated patterns on the facade. During daytime the kinetic lamellas are used to control solar input. The lamellas occupy more than 34,000 square feet, each one with a free span of 10 to 50 feet. The spears move when actuators apply compressive stress to the top and bottom of each one. The pressure creates a complex elastic deformation in each segment, causing the facade to open. Because upper and lower motors often have opposite power requirements the system can feed energy back into the local system to operate more efficiently

Climate Design The foyer and the Best Practice Area are naturally ventilated. During daytime the kinetic lamellas are used to control solar input.

Movement and pattern The louvers are moved by actuators located on both the upper and lower edge, inducing compression forces to create the complex elastic deformation. They reduce the distance between the two bearings and in this way induce a bending which results in a side rotation of the louver. The operable louvers fulfil a climatic function and allow different modes of operation depending on the user’s needs. Within the operation mode the louvers are individually actuated and create animated patterns along the façade. B -12

Case study 5. Sean godsell RMIT design hub Introduction The two keywords for the design of the RMIT Design Hub building are adaptability and flexibility. RMIT is a world leader in design research. Before this, building was the postgraduates were dissipated across various campuses and facilities. The Hub provides a combined research base where postgraduates in various design felds can work alongside each other in the same building. The Hub has a large number of ESD features and The outer skin of the northern façade is actually dedicated to ongoing research into solar cells to be conducted jointly by industry and RMIT.

Project Description Architect : Sean Godsell, Hayley Franklin Date Constructed: 2012 Location: RMIT University, Melbourne,Australia Function: design research and post education Type of response: active

The facade system and units The facade is build up out of panels with a size of 1.8 by 4.2 meters. These panels consist of a total of 21 glass discs and steel cylinders, which are supported on a secondary galvanised steel frame. These panels are the second skin of the facade, and are set about 700 millimeters outside of the curtain wall facade system the building uses. Each panel consists of 2 operable discs and 9 static discs. At the ground level all glass discs are fxed. In particular the outer skin of the Hub incorporates automated sunshading that includes 16000 sandblasted photovoltaic cells, evaporative cooling and fresh air intakes that improve the internal air quality and reduce running costs.

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Comparative analysis

Project

Al-Bahar Towers

Helio Trace

Year

2012

2008

Location

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Implemented Technology

Electro-Mechanical Technology

SDU Campus Kolding

One Ocean Pavilion

RMIT Design Hub

2012

2012

2012

USA/ New York

Kolding, Denmark

Yeosu, South Korea

Melbourne, Australia





Central control Programmed based on weather (BMS)

Facade Image

Central control HMI & BMS

Central Control

Central Control

Central control Programmed based weather (BMS)

Sensors-Central based

Light and heat Sensors-Central Based

Light Sensors Temperature Sensors

Light Sensors

Sensing Technology

Light Sensors-Central Based

Actuating Technology

Hydraulic Actuators Linear Actuators

Motor-based actuators

Hydraulic Actuators Linear Actuators

Screw Spindle Motor-based actuators

Motor-based actuators

Facade Material

PTFE Fiberglass

Metal/Plastic/wood/glass

perforated steel

GFRP Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polymer

Sandblasted glass Aluminum Steel

Facade Structure

Space Frame

Curtain Wall

Triangular frame

Vertical flexible beams

Curtain wall

Control System technology

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