State of Art

This project was inspired by the Brisbane Airport Parking Garage. Viewed from the exterior, Kahn’s proven concept for one side of the car park will appear to ripple and move due to the wind passing behind 250,000 aluminum panels. Inside the car park, intricate patterns of light and shadow will be projected onto the walls and floor as sunlight passes through the kinetic façade.

Objective

This project will apply a kinetic façade that utilizes an air quality sensor and an ultrasonic distance sensor to power servo motors which will open and light up the façade. The purpose of this design is to optimize ventilation of the parking garage while the car is idling as well as visually communicate how full the garage is on the exterior.

Technique

The code works as follows:

In day time conditions if there is no car the façade is closed and the lights are off. If a car pulls in to the parking spot during the day, the ultrasonic sensor triggers the servo motors to open the façade for ventilation. If a car pulls in during the night, the motion sensor triggers the servo motors to open the façade, and the light dependent resistor triggers the neopixel lights. The colour of the neopixel lights depends on the quality of the air; red signifies <300 Air Quality Index and blue signifies >300 Air Quality Index.


Conceptual Diagram

Materials

  • 2 Arduino Uno’s
  • 2 Bread Boards
  • 5 Servo Motors
  • 1 Air Quality Sensor (MQ-135)
  • 1 Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)
  • 1 LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
  • 1 10K OHM Resistor
  • Wires
  • 6 Strips of Neopixel Lights (measured to fit the frame)
  • 5V Power Supply
  • MDF for Frame and Supports (950 x 1220)
  • Foam Strings (50m)

Schematic

System Animation

 

Renders


Façade in Day Conditions


Façade in Night Conditions

Video

Bibliography

https://www.archdaily.com/69219/uap-ned-kahn-to-create-kinetic-artwork-for-brisbane-airport?ad_medium=gallery

Wake Up // Interactive Façade is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia developed at Master in Advanced Architecture in 2021 by:

Students: Rachel Bushe, Rahma Hassan, Morgan O’Reilly and Yue Wu

Faculty: Angel Muñoz & Cristian Rizzuti