Author(s)

N. Nikolov

Abstract

N. Nikolov Department of Art, Architecture and Design, Lehigh University, USA Abstract Today the architectural profession sees its future in the interplay and balance between the natural and built environments and increasingly seeks to establish a functional interface between them. Influenced by the wide use and dependency on software and numerically-controlled fabrication technologies, novel and complex forms are often evaluated through performance criteria that emphasize the environmental and structural parameters that shape them. These trends in architectural design and construction offer designers, engineers, and contractors the unique opportunity to combine qualitative with quantitative research methods in addressing the environmental demands on buildings. This paper reports on the research, design development, and conclusions of a project involving the development of an exterior shading screen for an east-facing glass curtain wall façade of a small residence in eastern Pennsylvania. The screen is able to provide optimal shading over a pre-determined period of time, as well as optimal porosity to allow for natural light penetration and ventilation. Keywords: environmental parametrics, parametric design, grasshopper, solar geometry, energy efficient design, exterior shading, building envelope design.

Keywords

environmental parametrics, parametric design, grasshopper, solar geometry, energy efficient design, exterior shading, building envelope design