Compliant Shading Enclosure / Brent Vander Werf

Jul 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Building Technology and Materials , Brent Vander Werf, Compliant Shading Enclosure

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Open Section © The CoDAF

Brent Vander Werf’s Compliant Shading Enclosure creates a movable mechanism within the air-gap of a glass enclosure to regulate the amount of sun, shade and shadow permitted in a space. Powered by the energy from the sun, the mechanism passively expands or closes to make the opening the correct size to meet the desired comfort level.

More about the shading system after the break.

Open to Closed Series © The CoDAF

The shading system utilizes a bi-metal element that is bonded to high expansion and low expansion alloys. A slight change in temperature makes the alloys produce an opposing force, causing the element to deform and rotate. The system requires no maintenance or user input once installed, and by adjusting the parameters of the alloys, the mechanism can suit a variety of climates.

Building Section Closed © The CoDAF

“By placing the bi-metal element within a sealed glass enclosure, like may double pane window systems, an increased amount of temperature change can be obtained due to the greenhouse effect and a passively actuated heat sensor is achieved with a wide range of rotational motion and force exertion. The actuator is then coupled with a bistable mechanism, or an elastic element which produces spring-like characteristics by storing and releasing kinetic and potential energy, thus snapping the aperture and attached shading membrane closed with maximum heat input and vice versa, snapping the aperture back open as heat input diminishes significantly, opening the aperture once again to what’s beyond the glass,” explained the designer.

Mid Section © The CoDAF

Closed Section © The CoDAF

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: © The CoDAF

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: Photo by Stefano Paltera/US Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon © The CoDAF

: Open to Closed Series © The CoDAF

: Open Section © The CoDAF

: Mid Section © The CoDAF

: Closed Section © The CoDAF

: Building Section Closed © The CoDAF

: Building Section Open © The CoDAF

Thesis Title: Elastic Systems for Compliant Shading Enclosure

Date Published: May 15th, 2009

Patent Pending (Established May 5th, 2010)

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Compliant Shading Enclosure / Brent Vander Werf" 22 Jul 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/69969>

Comments (7)
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farlung says:

A fascinating idea- imagine if the same principle could be applied at the nano scale!

# July 23, 2010 at 09:42

tDA says:

Very cool to see the idea in it’s early stages.
Would love to see more info on the house they’ve installed this proto on..?

# July 23, 2010 at 11:28

Peter Secan says:

The house is the University of Arizona’s entry into the Solar Decathlon competition. More information can be found at their website, http://www.uasolardecathlon.com, or at the department of energy’s solar decathlon page. Brent’s window was definitely a big topic of interest for visitors of the house.

# July 23, 2010 at 17:30

dezzo says:

Thought this was done by Jean Nouvel way back in the 90s with some building in Paris?

# July 23, 2010 at 12:27

bLogHouse says:

It was – Arab World Institute 1981 (project) – great concept, great building!

# July 23, 2010 at 16:34

Rich says:

Weren’t Jean Nouvel’s apertures powered?

Similar to the Monde Arab, I wonder if the apertures here make any noise, or enough noise to disturb its residents. I know the Monde has that issue.

# July 23, 2010 at 18:46

You are right, they are powered by motors. Still, it’s the same concept, older technology – the design was done 30 years ago.
I spent some time inside the building in 93 and saw the apertures moving – don’t remember hearing any irritable noise.

# July 24, 2010 at 08:30

11:24 AM Jul 22nd

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