Algorithmic Design 1

Assignment 

Can a paper shade itself?
Design and create a paper prototype of a 20cm x 20cm tile that has the capability to shade itself
from the sun of Dubai.
In urban landscapes, especially those in hot climates like Dubai, managing heat in a sustainable way is critical. This warm-up exercise focuses on designing and developing self-shading surfaces that can contribute to reducing heat absorption through their shapes and forms, thus passively mitigating the urban heat island effect. By articulating their geometry, explore how sheets of paper can transform into self-shading systems that protect themselves from the sun.

Materials

  • Paper (white A3 paper)
    Techniques
  • Employ any paper manipulation techniques such as cutting, folding, pleating, warping, twisting, etc.

  • Use only paper.
  • Ensure the final prototype is 20cm x 20cm.
  • You can look at nature for inspiration and apply biomimicry principles.
    Focus
  • The design should emphasize the functionality of shading. Test it under the sun at different times of
    the day, or use a spotlight to simulate the sun rays and test the shading effects. The aim is to
    maximize the area that is shaded, as well as the times of the day during which it is shaded.


    Deliverables
  • A final paper tile prototype (it will be decided with the help of the professor).
  • A minimum of 10 iterations of working prototypes (including both failed or successful trials)
  • A brief document explaining your design process and techniques used and featuring nice white background photos of your prototypes exposed to the sun.
  • Update your blog with the content of the document.


    Criteria for Evaluation
  • Effectiveness of shading.
  • Design coherence.
  • Structural integrity.
  • Creative use of paper.

ALGORITHMIC DESIGN TASK

The goal is to design the final paper prototype using Rhino/Grasshopper and fabricate a 40×40 cm tile using MDF cut with the laser cutter. The model will be fabricated in the CNC module and you can adopt MDF sheets of 2.8 mm or 5 mm. Consider these information during the 3D modeling and design phase.

The Task consists in the definition of a design strategy using parametric design tool to articulate your proposal and translate the paper tile into a static MDF model. You have to construct the algorithm that defines the three-dimensional manifestation of the paper model.


Preparation for next week

-Update your blog with sketches of the ideation and screenshots of the work in progress. Remember to add captions to describe the content.