Adoptable Environment & Responsive Structure

Digitally signed by MAYSAM

MAYSAM
GHAFFARI
DN: cn=MAYSAM GHAFFARI,
o, ou,

GHAFFARI
email=maysssam@yahoo.co
m, c=US
Date: 2010.01.06 13:26:16
-08'00'
 5

Adoptable Environment & Responsive Structure

This thesis proposes the develop-

ment of a new School of Architecture for the
American university in Dubai. It offers the
opportunity to explore technology in
software and construction methods to
improve the performance of architecture
and urban design in respond to both
culture and environment. The response is
local and global, a balance between rigidity
and flexibility which transforms liabilities into
assets. This project develops various sustain-
able principles ranging from economy and
ecology to social and cultural factors, and
resolves them with an integrated design
strategy based on computational design
methodologies. Inspiration is found in coral
porous skin structures with inherent surface
pattern possibilities. This has lead to the
practical development and implementation
of an active solar controlled envelope system
with lightweight textile construction as
means for adaptable and responsive
environments.

Maysam Ghaffari
Directed Study, Individual Project
AAU, School of Architecture, San Francisco, Fall 2009
A
School of Architecture Proposal
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Spring2009
 7

Su
n
Pa
Underground Connection

th
-I
To Metro Station

rra
di
at
io
n
new
School of
Architecture

Li
gh
tR
ai
lT
Am

ra
er

ns
ica

it
n
U
ni
ve
rs
ity
in
D
ub
ai

H
ig
hw
ay
Ro
ad
s
DU
BA
I2
01
2

10
km

bird eye view ( main entrance ) Legend

Under Construction
Community
Hotel
Government
Hospital
Water
Legend
Major Roads

Residential Industrial Parks

Minor Roads

Residential/Commercial Education Sandy Areas Road Center Line

A
School of Architecture Proposal
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Grid Rout 1 Rout 2 Rout 3

5.00 x 5.00 m

Program Analysis And Space Requirement

For Studios, Library And Workshop

School of Engineering
Faculty housing Main Building
Dormitory
School of Business
school of Interior Design
Single Unit
Group Formation
No. Students

Underground Connection
To Metro Station
Node Hight 0 40M
Operable Aperture 9

Shading Structure

Operable Aperture
Fabric Surface

Fix Aperture
Fabric Surface

A regulated grid was

developed in response
to program and site
Motor Location analysis to rationalize
and optimize needs for
Main Structure
flexibility access and
communication among
users. Further process-
Angled Structure
ing of the specific
Library contextual issues
Workshop through deformation of
the grid allowed
Toward Metro Station volumes to emerge. The
Exhibition
nature of deformation
corresponds to mapping
of pedestrian traffic
Studioes studies. This approach
allows the grid to
become a mass with a
continuous the skin
surface.
OPERABLE APERTURE SYSTEM A

12

0
4
8
Light: 80%
Rotation: 10 North
253

17:36:23

13

1
5
9
253 253
School of Architecture Proposal

10
Dircted Studies, Individual Project

14

2
6
253

15

3
7
8:0:11

11
7:8:9
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Spring2009

Light: 60%
Rotation: 30 North
513

17:36:23

513 513

513

9:0:0
7:8:9

Light: 30%
Rotation: 60 North
722

17:36:23

722 722

722

9:59:55

7:8:9

Light: 10%
Rotation: 100 North
936

17:36:23

936 936

936

11:59:53

7:8:9

Light: 20%
Rotation: -50 North
836

17:36:23

836 836

13:59:49

836
 11

Operable Aperture System

The envelope system is a
combination of framed
trusses with tensile compo-
nents. These components
actively function like a
camera’s lens aperture,
individually responding
throughout the day to
various solar conditions
depending upon location
and orientation. A
North

North

mechanical rotating mecha-

nism augments a pupil like
aperture, to modulate
450

181
7:8:9

7:8:9

7:8:9

lighting levels. Each compo-

nent is related to the base
geometry that inherits form
450

450

181

181

the base pattern. This

concept resolves all condi-
Rotation: -110
Rotation: -70

tions with a repetitive

450

181
Light: 50%

Light: 90%

hierarchal pattern derived

15:59:43

16:59:28
17:36:23

17:36:23

from contextual information

and enables consistent
performance.
A
School of Architecture Proposal
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Spring2009

Study Of Pattern Differentiation Along The Roof

Unfolded Fabric

Snap on cover
Laminated glass
Sun protection layer
Wire spring, to keep the
fabric tight when it’s closing
Fabric
Mast adjustment
SKIN & STRUCTURE
 13
Solar position calculator results
2
(Using solar constant = 1367 W/m )

open
n Date: 1/1/2010 Time: 12:00:00 Zone: GMT + 4
20
Rotation Deg.

80
130 Lat: 25.27° Long: 55.33° Aspect: 180°
170
e
close Pressure: 1013.0 mB Temp: 10.0° C

Declination -22.9992°
Solar zenith angle 48.5667°
(no refraction)
Solar zenith angle 48.5485°
(with refraction)
Julian day 55197.8333
Equation of time -3.4702 min
Hour angle -5.5375°
90%
Sun Light

60% Extraterrestrial global horizontal 936.32 W/m2

30%
10% solar irradiance
90 90 90 90
Extraterrestrial direct normal solar 1414.91 W/m2
180 0 180 0 180 0 180 0
irradiance
Daily global ETR 6347.1 W/m2
270 270 270 270
Daily direct normal ETR 14798.4 W/m2
Earth radius factor 1.0351
power access
Sunrise 07:08:23
Sunset 17:35:54

1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 24:00

Modules pattern in a day

Aperture size and rotation scripted to respond to solar angle

The Solar Position algorithm is based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Solar Position Calculator:
http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/azel.html
Solar irradiation is calculated based on information on following link:
http://solardat.uoregon.edu/SolarRadiationBasics.html#Ref1
the solare angle algorithm is modefied base on existing vb.code by www.tedngai.net
A
School of Architecture Proposal
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Spring2009

Aperture at 8:00 am

Aperture at 10:00 am

Aperture at 12:00 am

Operable Aperture Operable Aperture

Operable Aperture

Fix Aperture

Fix Aperture
SKIN & STRUCTURE

Fix Aperture

3d Section Form Studio

Studio Aperture at 8:00 am 01/01/2010
 15
Fabric
Mast
Seal Bolt To Pressure Fabric Caskets
Snap On Cover
Thermal Isolator

Gasket Weather Seal

Thermal Isolator
Structural Silicone Sealant
Round Plate Attached To Motor
Seating Metal Plate
Clip Angle. To Structure, With Slot
Weld

Structural Beam
Motor

Fix Aperture

Studio Perspective at 1:00 pm

A
School of Architecture Proposal
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture, San Francisco, Spring2009

Studio Perspective
 17
Laaser-cut Pattern
Structure Model
A
School of Architecture Proposal
posal
Project
Dircted Studies, Individual Project
AAU, School Of Architecture,re, San Francisco, Spring2009

Section A at 8:00 am 01/01/2010

Elevation at 8:00 am 01/01/2010

C
A

6m
3
Roof Aperture at 8:00 am 01/01/2010

1.5
0
19

Bird Eye View at 8:00 am

First Floor Plan
Section B at 8:00 am 01/01/2010
Section A at 8:00 am 01/01/2010