Data machine. Building component

Designing Associativity Assignment 02: Data Machine Liliana Viveros DĂ­az Luz Michelle Lavayen Renata Stefanelli

Description The goal of the assignment was to study the relationship between information, design and fabrication and implement that data flow into a physical object. We developed a definition to create a data machine that influences a design informed by external climatic or ambient data. More specifically, we worked with a building component (a skin) that changes its behavior based on climactic forces such as solar radiation. In this example, we tried to figure out the best orientation for solar radiation capture/absorbance of the skin according to its shape and surface. This eventually would help calculate which is the best possibility for greater amount of energy production (kwh.) This research is very important and useful to our group because we are working with this type of data in the Self Sufficient Studio. The tools used where Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo, Weaverbird, Geco and Ecotect.

Design

We uploaded the Rhino file with the design of IaaC’s block already used in the Self Sufficient Studio.

To draw the skin on top of the buildings we did a Mesh Plane using Kangaroo. Join the mesh using a Mesh Join. Connect to a Decompose and Visualize if the Vector Normals are facing towards outside using a Vector Display.

Design

In order to analyze the amount of sunlight it can capture throughout the year, download the plug-in Geco that combines Grasshopper with Ecotect. Turn on Ecotect by using a Link Ecotect. Set the Toggle Boolean True in order to connect, and the panel on the out will warn “Connectivity test with running instance of Ecotect Successful�.

Export the mesh to Ecotect by using EcoMeshExport and turn it on also by setting the Toggle Boolean True. We connected the Mesh into a EcoSolCal and set the Weather Data File to Barcelona. Use an EcoObjectRequest and set the Explode Mesh with a Lenght List for the Domain. Subtract 1 so it counts how many surfaces you have without taking into consideration 0 in the list, as one surface. From the mesh explode, connect to a Mesh Area and use Text Tag and Tag 3D in order to show the areas of each surface. Also connect the value number to Bounds and RepMap the Numbers.

Design

In order to visualize the Ecotect values, connect the Mesh Colours to RBG of EcoObjectRequest. Then use Weaverbird Picture Frame, to modify the mesh and create some apertures. Rejoin the mesh by using a Mesh Join. For better visualization, connect to Mesh Thicken and to soften the results Catmull-clark Subdivision.

First we calculate the entire mesh without the Weaverbird Picture Frame.

Design

Then in order to have more especific values, we recalculate the mesh but this time with the Weaverbird Picture Frame holes, this holes controled the amount of solar radiation penetrating the building component.