project objectives
Responsibilities included: investigating biomimicry thinking, borrowing from nature’s genius solutions that were developed from 3.85 billion years of evolution. The goal was to minimize the hazardous impact of Urban Heat Island [UHI] and examine the core infrastructure of our cities; materials, energy use, contamination, and environmental/social quality.
design ideation & sketch notes
The primary focus was to minimize the carbon footprint and maximize geo-energy harvesting. Building an urban forest as a living ecosystem and ensuring that it provides the maximum benefits for communities. Design should improve the quality of life for the millions who live and work in urban areas by filtering the air, reducing smog formation, preventing erosion, cleaning up contaminated land, and supporting local wildlife.
Research & date
According to the World Health Organization, the percentage of the global population living in the cities grew from 34% to 54% between 1960 and 2014. As the population density increase, pollution within the area increases proportionally and green space within the area decrease proportionally. Environmental hazards not only pose an agricultural danger but also a direct threat to human health.
biomimicry function card [sunflower] & design
Design Principle: Gimbal mechanism to facilitate pan & tilt. All turbine and solar modules are detachable.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics [BIPV]: The energy payback period of 1.5 years. Thin Film Solar Cell [TFSC] is flexible, non-toxic material, absorb EMS range between infrared and UV, performs well at weak light.
Building Integrated Turbines: 45 – 50% efficiency relative to air velocity and density.
Mechanism: [Heliotropism] Solar tracking is controlled by a specialized organ [pulvinus]. This generates a mechanical force that controls the orientation of the petiole and thus the leaf blade; facing the Sun provides extra warmth and makes them better at attracting pollinators.
Function: Align with the orientation of the Sun from East to West.
Strategy: Maximize its growth by facing normal to the Sun.
biomimicry function card [honeycomb] & design
Design Principle: Hexagonal holes scattered throughout the structure for structural support while minimizing materials. Honeycomb produce the best fluid laminar flow which will maximize Building Integrated Turbines efficiency and better air circulation within the complex.
Material: Wood is an excellent building material from an engineering perspective. It has a high strength to weight ratio, high stiffness to weight ratio; it is easier to create free-form components and provides much faster and simpler construction than steel or concrete.
Mechanism: The honeycomb is constructed from tightly packed hexagons for space efficiency. Honeycomb can store the largest possible amount of honey using the least amount of wax.
Function: Desirable physical properties and airflow efficiency.
Strategy: Minimization of the amount of used material to reach the minimal weight and minimal material density while achieving relatively high plane compression and out of plane shear properties.
biomimicry function card [twining vines] & design
Design Principle: Helix structure walking trial will maximize surface area for green space while seeking support from another entity [Exterior Wood Structure].
Plants growing alongside the walking trail will filter air pollution, cool down the environment, absorb CO2, the soil is the best nature water filtration. Trees can provide homes for other living animals/species.
Mechanism: Twining Vines have a characteristic that reduces value materials and resources by not having a thick trunk to reach for the sunlight. They can adapt to neighboring plants movement while resisting deformation.
Function: Climb on supporting plants [trees].
Strategy: Being flexible and lightweight allows for a strong connection to the support plant.
final design & rendering
Running Track with a View: This outdoor recreational center is a symbolic structure that demonstrates awareness of environmental consciousness and provides healthy living for the community while developing an ecosystem within the city.
Night Lights: Hexagonal green patterns at night reflect the city lights back out to the city, bringing awareness of the amount of energy being used that night.