FIREFLY _Project 1

“Firefly” dramatically reveals how wind moves around and through it. The hinged, polycarbonate panels swing with the unseen patterns of the wind. Each panel has a small embedded magnet that connects with an electrical reed switch. By day, the work appears like rippling waves of glass. By night, the back and forth swinging of the panels trigger the flickering of tiny led lights. The illumination of this entire sculpture requires less energy than a 75-watt light bulb. The artwork also serves as a gantry for a series of power-generating, vertical axis wind turbines that power the lights as well as feeding electricity back into the building. A collaboration with KMD Architecture and commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission for the Public Utilities Commission. Completed in 2012.

Video Link:

http://nedkahn.com/portfolio/firefly-video/

CJ R&D Center kinetic facade _PROJECT 2

Testing the next evolution in commercial building skins the CJ Cheiljedang Research and Development Center’s unique responsive facade controls solar gain over a significant range of exposure. Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design was tasked to create a marquee office and research center in Seoul, South Korea. Their solution was to create three tear drop shaped towers radiating from a glass atrium shrouded in a kinetic shade.

The accordion folded window shading wraps all three towers to provide a level of protection from solar glare. In key areas the shading folds to maximize solar control using a custom designed retractable mechanism. Based on the simple umbrella and developed on the 3ds Max software platform the perforated steel strips installed on scissor actuators can open or close automatically to ensure proper natural light levels while reducing overheating. Each unit is set between floors in groups of three ribbons, allowing the windows to be fully covered or fully exposed. When open the façade provides shade protection from the overhead summer daytime sun.

Video Link:

http://vimeo.com/19900510

Similar Project to above....

kiefer technic showroom _PROJECT 3

Ernst Giselbrecht + Partner

Ernst Giselbrecht + Partner present the Kiefer Technic Showroom, an office building and exhibition space with a dynamic facade that changes to outdoor conditions, optimizing internal climate, while allowing users to personalize their own spaces with user controls.

The shell construction of the facade consists of solid brick walls, reinforced concrete ceilings and floors, and steel encased concrete columns. The facade consist of aluminums posts and transoms with protruding bridges for maintenance, with an EIFS-facade in white plaster. The sun screen operates on electronic shutters of perforated aluminum panels.