Exploring New Forms with Parametric Patterns for Responsive Facades

Abstract

Façades or building envelopes have always been the interface between the building and the environment. The effective and smart façades that are designed to adapt the environmental conditions date back to when windows and ventilators were designed carefully in response to the site conditions. Over recent decades, the emphasis on energy consumption and its reduction has increased drastically, as technology has evolved and increasingly new materials are used in buildings than ever. Due to the numerous significant roles that a facade plays, thermal comfort, aesthetics, acoustics and lighting, high-performance building facades have become one of the main focal points for researchers and designers. This study is based on the intersection of two main subjects of interest, the significance of jali/screens, as ornate architectural elements along with their functional importance and the integration of this knowledge with parametric design methods to achieve new design solutions in façade design. The study then demonstrates the kinetic façade concept through a jali. Two design exercises have been carried out and their kinetic systems explored, with the potential of a simple geometric design used as a module to generate the skin and its kinetic response. The investigations from this research open a gateway for further explorations in jali design, using parametric tools to develop kinetic responsive skins.