Nour Negm- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

The American University in Cairo (AUC)

School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture

ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2022)

Student portfolio documenting samples of work submitted along the course, including research, experimentation, 3D modeling, digital fabrication, parametric design and modeling, physical model realisation and analysis.

Student name: Nour Negm Student ID: 900191061

© The American University in Cairo (AUC), Fall 2022

Nour Negm Architecture Student

more visual. Furthermore, after transitioning from this phase to grasshopper, it was a bit challenging, but then once the link was made between the physical aspects and the digital aspects through defining the parameters and creating a potential workflow, everything made sense and grasshopper started to flow a lot easier and it was very enabling to understand what are my potential variables and how I can play around with them.

I was hesitant to join the school of architecture at first, however, during my sophomore year, after my first ‘real’ architectural project, I felt like this is where I belonged. This course in specific is very interesting to me because of the endless possibilities it has and the ability to learn something completely new. I did not enjoy coding in my freshman year, however, when i started using grasshopper, everything flowed a lot easier and I was very happy with the outcome of each phase and how it came to be at the end.

During the early experimentations with gypsum, I felt like the ability to manipulate the form was easy and determining the needed parameters was made a lot

1. Material Exploration

in this phase we used physical expiremented to understand fabric forming techniques.

2. Defining Parameters

then we extracted the different variables needed to propagate a panel.

Today’s computational capabilities introduce an associative and performance-based process that was not available before. Material exploration and digital fabrication in particular is gradually gaining prominence as a fundamental shift in design development and construction. Being able to fulfill “informed manufacturing potentials becomes a principal strategy in realizing innovative contemporary architectural design intentions” – Kolarevic and Klinger, Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture, 2008. In this experimental project, the objective is to physically explore with different materials and fabrication techniques to devise a unit prototype for a building façade. You are encouraged to investigate several physical / digital techniques and material explorations that can support the process of experimentation with your ideas, including:

฀ Casting

฀ Fabric Forming Material exploration using gypsum followed by reflecting on that stage and creating a panel on grasshopper, which is then combined to create a cluster

3. Creating a workflow

this phase involved the transition from physical experimentation to grasshopper.

4. Creating a cluster then panel

finally, we experimented with different grouping techniques to form a cluster.

Precedents

Fabric forming: using fabric membranes as means of a formwork to support concrete and create interesting structures.

Kenzo Unno

Kenzo Unno used different formwork/fabrics/frames to create walls that were very aesthetically pleasing and easy to create.

Zero-Waste Formwork :

Formwork membrane used (when removed creates exposed interior) Sustainable and requires minimal formwork Aimed at reducing construction waste.

Approach:

Using tights as the membrane

Using sticks as formwork

Using wires as a mesh base

Concept:

Creating a shell-like topography form with variations and textures

Form involves concave and pulled down elements

Exploring different proportions and dimensions of the concavities and understanding the scale

Trial ITrial

Creating textures with aluminum and varying the heights of the foam balls

Pouring mix over the ‘membrane’ and spreading it evenly

After drying, the distance between each ball was not enough with the mix

Some parts cracked and some dried with a very interesting texture, however the balls did not create a prominent effect

Reflection:

Aluminum makes it more liable to crack

Foil creates interesting textures

Topographic effect was not that evident

Large surface area required more mix

Using a plastic bag as the membrane over the formwork

The texture of the plastic bag created a very lumpy effect

The final effect was more of a split unit rather than one unifided volume, it looks like two concave volumes with textures created by the plastic bag used as the membran

Using a plastic bag Failed attempt at mimicing the pulling effect using gloves

The foam balls helped with the texture and spreading the surface area, however the mix became lumpy due to the plastic and kept sinking

The result was an egg carton shape that ended up having interesting hollow shapes and several lines where the glove would ‘wrinkle’

Reflection:

Best outcome was the first trial with aluminum and foam balls

Pulling effect needs a much larger surface area Perfect mix is with ratio 2 Gypsum : 1 Water and creates the perfect drying time and effect Large surface area required more mix

Concept:

Creating a shell-like topography form with variations and textures

Form involves concave and pulled down elements

Exploring different proportions and dimensions of the concavities and understanding the scale .

Physical modeling as a start proved to be very valuable due to:

The ability to manipulate the form using your hands as opposed to digital modeling

Understanding how different bases/canvases and materials can be used to create different forms

Exploring different proportions and dimensions and understanding the scale of what we are creating

Reasoning for Seletcted Panel:

This iteration proved to be the most interesting in terms of parameters, inspired by seashells, their texture and concavity. It shows a lot of potential in terms of varying the openings, as well as potentially exploring corrugation.

Conclusions:

- Adding too much water delays drying

- Stretching fabric creates the best effect

- More gypsum makes it more liable to crack

- Several iterations needed and moving the material around

Selected Panel

This iteration proved to be the most interesting in terms of parameters, inspired by seashells, their texture and concavity. It shows a lot of potential in terms of varying the openings, as well as potentially exploring corrugation.

. Conclusions:

- Adding too much water delays drying - Stretching fabric creates the best effect - More gypsum makes it more liable to crack

- Several iterations needed and moving the material around - Able to manipulate fabric more - heavier mixture allows for more of a concave shape

-Dries faster due to absorption of tights to water

- Final trial worked due to actually manipu-

Early Trials on Grasshopper and Attempts to Devise Paramters

Devising Paramters

Reflections:

In order to properly digitize, mapping of parameters is needed.

Chosen panel shows the most potential in terms of variables and parameters. Physical experimentation was essential in order to truly understand the dimensions of parametric design through a “hands-on” experience. Moving forward, I plan on combining physical experimentation and sketches in order to properly derive the parameters needed to move forward with the propagation and formation of the logic of creating a single functional panel.

Using Rhino to understand the logic needed in Grasshopper

Reflections:

Early experimentation and devising the logic on grasshopper took time, but the trial and error was highly interesting. I first started by trying to subtract from a preexisting box, however, i then realized, after research, that it would be much more interesting to project and control points of a single chosen surface from a box and then dispatching to create the fragmentation needed for light penetration and ribs needed for movement.

Workflow + Form Generation

Instead of splitting making it only 1 surface that has ribs for spacing

Second Iteration: Creating Gaps Using Dispatch

Third

Iteration:

Spacing the ribs

1. Divide Surface

2. Create different groups of different spacing

Logic of 1 Panel:

Having a base surface to control points from and create waves Using pinch and spread to create the openings after dividing the surface Having 1 set panel and controlling different variables to obtain different iterations.

Logic

of 1 Cluster:

Create openings in the panel for light penetration Vary openings sizes

Combine different panels with different sizes to create a cluster

Local Parameters

Global Parameters

Clustering

Using the same script but combining panels in different ways and experimenting with overlapping

The script applied on panel iteration number I and panel iteration number II, followed by combining their geometries to create a clusters

Reflections:

Overall, after having completed this process (transforming my material exploration phase into a single panel, followed by a whole cluster and then deriving the parameters and variables from it), I was very surprised with what I was able to achieve and how much more mature it was than the early product.

In this project, the objective is to explore and parametrically generate a prototype for a building façade skin that takes into consideration issues of environmental comfort, spatial relations and human aspects using a passive approach. You are required to develop a parametrically driven building skin for the building shown below (National Bank of Egypt Branch, South Teseen Rd, New Cairo). The main façade of the building is in a South/Southwest orientation, and so you are required to devise an appropriate envelope that provides adequate shading and sun protection.

Double Skin Facade

Consists of 2 layers, one is usually glass

Air flows in the space between the 2 layers, which acts as insulation from extreme temperatures and thereby reduces heat gain

The space between both layers can range between 20 cm - a few meters Minor modifications such as closing parts and creating openings, can drastically change the whole facade

In cold areas, the double skin prevents heat loss (acts as a barrier) In hot areas, it can be vented to reduce solar heat gain (conventional current)

Environmentally:

Reduce cooling and heating demand

Allow natural light

Improve insulation

Allow natural ventilation and air renewal

Critique

High reliance on context, which can be a problem if anything in the con text changes

High cost of construction Space consumption

Maintenance demand

Risky to depend on if any environmental factor changes

Precedents

Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski+Pons

outer skin acting as both spandrel and parapet

Orange Village / Koffi & Diabaté Architectes

Double skin, consisting of 4,000 pieces, provides passive protection from direct sunlight and limits the amount of heat coming in from outside.

Suanphlu Office / IDIN Architects

The double-skin facade is designed to protect the building from harsh sunlight, reduce the reflection on the glass facade, and encourage wind flow and ventilation. The building’s glass facade is covered by aluminum cladding to reduce the heat and the amount of sunlight entering the building, while still providing visibility to the outside through its clear, perforated, and opaque design.

Concept

Plan 2726

The concept is to create a facade that mimics the implied variations in the Project I panel, where it is set to consist of two parts:

Dynamic Pipes: move with different speeds depending on activity levels in the building based on function and also affects the shading level and pattern of the static facade underneath

Static Facade: an enlarged version of the Project I panel that is more open towards the middle and bottom for outdoor and public areas and more closed off on top for the private offices.

Elevation

Propagation

The logic is to use the parameters in Project I and see how they can be built on to create 2 layers, one static and one dynamic, while playing and experimenting with the horizontality and verticality of the existing panel.

Early Trials and Iterations

Direct Inserting on Facade

Early experimentation involved trying out inserting the panel from Project I on the facade.

First Complete Facade Iteration

The first facade iteration showed transformation from using the panel literally and placing it directly on the facade, to enlarging it to the scale of the facade and creating pipes for user movement instead of wind due to low exposure to strong winds.

Iterations Outcome

This was the first version where both the static and dynamic facade were overlayed and the outcome was interesting because of the horizontal vs vertical overlay.

Spatial Configuration

Private offices will be located at the top part for increased privacy, with outdoor areas in the middle and public areas at the bottom.

Top spaces will be protruded in order to self-shade the outdoor areas in the middle, which will overlook and have visual connectivity with the public and active floor below

The dynamic pipes move faster with higher activity at the bottom of the building with higher amounts of people, and moves slower in the more private, office-type meeting rooms.

The static louvers provide different sunlight exposure and privacy levels based on the function of the space and the slab configuration.

Plans

The facade does not move with each slab, however it has different types of movements and openings depending on the requirements and function.

Protruded vs Recessed Slabs

Ground Floor Plan showing structure, slab and protrusion

Connection details of how the facade is fixed and connected to each floor slab

ProtrudedRecessedRecessed

Site Conditions & Environmental Factors

Reflection:

Based on the previous analysis, I will be taking kinetic and static- based approach, where one will cater for sunlight and one for user movement/ activity levels. This is due to the low likelyhood of having wind in the southern area

The facade aims to respond to sunlight penetration/ shading needs. Since it’s a southern facade it responds through:

Horizontal Louvers: for maximum shading

Varied openings: For different levels of shading and penetration to accommodated for different seasons

Environmental Analysis

- Most areas are well-shaded except for the top floor.

-The shading is more focused on certain areas than others.

-There needs to be more sunlight penetration in the lower floors.

-Openings need to be more varied and less uniform

-It is hard determining the effect of the dynamic part of the facade because it will be in constant motion, therefore it will be hard to measure it at this stage or at least using those tools.

Adjustments

- Experimenting with analysis on glass vs facade

- Variety in opening sizes on static facade

- Increased manipulation on pipes movement

- Varying slabs even more to fit with slab

Sections

Preparing the 3D printing file on Rhino

Fabrication on Ultimaker Cura

Fabrication

During this stage, it was very interesting to experiment adjusting the facade in order to fit it for 3D printing. Additionally, the process helped me visualize whethere or not my facade needed adjustment in order to correctly be 3D printed and approximately how long it will take. I first started by hiding all items except for my facade, then I proceeded to scale it in order to prepare it for the STL format and then when visualizing it on Ultimaker Cura, I needed to scale it up and remove the dynamic part because it would not make sense to print it as a static unit. Finally, I sliced it and the estimated time needed to 3D print showed to be 4 hrs.

Dimensions: 30*30*30 box

Time Needed to 3D Print: 4 hrs

VR EXPERIENCE

Overall, the VR experience was extremely beneficial and helped me understand the human scale within my facade a lot more.

Moving forward, I realized the horizontal static layer with the vertical dynamic layer have bad proportions together and make it very dense for the user and not pleasing to the eye. The horizontal grid needs to be made a lot wider.

Final Workflow Dynamic Facade

Static Facade

Facade Movement

Overall Reflection:

Overall, this course taught me a lot about myself. I did not know i was capable of achieving this much and reaching this level of comfort with a software like rhino/grasshopper. Every part of this course was exceedingly enjoyable. However, sometimes it was frustrating when that one command on grasshopper would not work or when the workflow did not run as expected. Regardless, i learned a lot and can safely say that I understand fabrication, propagation and parametric architecture a lot better. Project II in particular was my favorite because we were studying street patterns in Vertical Design Studio A and were talking about how all corporate buildings are getting a parametric facelift, so it was both ironic and interesting that we got the chance to do our own.

Biblography

• Author links open overlay panelAliGhaffarianhoseiniaPersonEnvelopeAmirhoseinGhaffarianhoseinibUmbertoBerardicJohnTookeyaDanny Hin WaLidShahabKariminiae, AliGhaffarianhoseiniaPersonEnvelope, a, AmirhoseinGhaffarianhoseinib, b, UmbertoBerardic, c, JohnTookeya, WaLid, D. H., d, ShahabKariminiae, e, & AbstractWith the global target to promote energy saving in buildings. (2016, February 20). Exploring the advantages and challenges of double-skin façades (dsfs). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032116001866

• Danpal. (2021, December 29). Double skin façade - perfect protection for the building. Danpal. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https://danpal.com/double-skin-curtain-wall/

• Souza, E. (2019, August 20). How do double-skin façades work? ArchDaily. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https://www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work

• Souza, E. (2021, October 21). ArchDaily. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https://www.archdaily.com/tag/double-skin-facades