For 48-775: Architectural Interfaces: Virtual Platform for Intuitive Fabrication
By Afshan Rehman and Amulya Surapaneni
Tectonic System and User Interface:
In this project, we try to explore innovative ways of using technology to explore sustainable strategies of Daylight and Thermal Comfort by designing and fabricating unique personal spaces. Through user engagement and by stimulating human creativity, a tectonic system is built using clay as an intuitive material.
Concept Diagram of the game
Through time technique modelling, the clay is pinched, punctured and carved on at regular intervals for 120 minutes to establish the time frame for the final game interface. Clay is established as the primary material because of its accessibility and affordability. Since the idea behind the game is to demonstrate the concept of sustainability, clay is also tabbed for its non-toxic and thermal cooling nature.
Methodology Diagram of the game
By keeping the location, date and time in the game constant, the user is allowed to build a conglomerate of intuitively built tectonic systems for the facade. Within the given time frame, the user has to add or remove parts of the tectonic system and add or remove clay to achieve a desirable level of illuminance (LUX) and thermal comfort (heat gain).
Flowchart Diagram of the game
Using generative design, 1000s of permutations and combinations are generated with different types of grids, different placement of modules and the presence and absence of clay. By keeping the time and day constant, daylight and thermal simulations are run for all the generated options. Based on the area of the openings and amount of clay, the results from the previously run simulations are fed into the game that translates these values as game results.
Few of the sample daylight simulations run for 15 types of grids
Game Interface:
Character
City View-1
City View-2
Main Room View-1
Main Room View-2
Game Demo Storyboard
Our aim was create a game that promotes digital interaction with a tectonic system that is rooted in real-time effects of sunlight. The young user intuitively understands how the solid to void ratio is related to illuminance and how that has a correlation with heat gain. The time limit makes the game more interesting and also reflects on the gullible nature of clay.