Facade of the Future
A Regenerative Solution for Urban Areas
N.M. de Graaf (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
S. Parisi – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Materials and Manufacturing)
J.R. Alferink – Mentor (TU Delft - Society, Culture and Critique)
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Abstract
Urban areas are facing more and more challenges these days, such as the Urban Heat Island Effect, the loss of biodiversity, extreme rainfall and unsustainable resource use.
This project aims to design a solution: a regenerative facade panel. The Material Driven Design Method by by E. Karana and B. Barati (2015) is the method used during this project.
The material of the panel is biocomposite, a carbon-negative material. The geometry of the facade panel uses biomimicry to emulate leaf morphology for effective rainwater channeling and drainage, along with a pattern of grooves on the surface. This geometry results in a facade panel that establishes a micro-climate with ideal conditions for moss growth. Such bio-receptive facades could be seen as the key to healthy and resilient cities, where buildings live in symbiosis with its environment.
The design draws inspiration from several concepts: the More-than-Human Design approach, regenerative approaches and biomimicry. The design employs surface geometry to facilitate controlled vegetation growth, thereby transforming public perceptions. What was once regarded as a weed or a sign of decay can be changed into appreciation.