BioSkin Facades: A reinterpretation of the Mashrabiya

5^th World Congress on Smart and Emerging Materials

April 19-20, 2018 Dubai, UAE

Sundara Vadhana Gurushev

Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai

Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Archetype, in Jungian theory, is a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious. Identity refers to oneâ��s unique fa�§ade, so to speak, in this case, a countryâ��s history or culture. Vernacular Architecture is referred to as â��Architecture of the Peopleâ��. It becomes a language of form and culture which gives rise to identities unique to its context. Architectural identities, however, do not necessarily mean monuments or magnificent structures. The architectural identity of a region can be found in the most basic houses of the region. This study focuses on the vernacular design elements that can be reinterpreted and adapted into present day architecture of the gulf. Sudare, the famous Japanese bamboo blinds and Uchimizu, a Japanese air-cooling technique that uses water-spray to cool the surroundings. These were the foundations of the BioSkin Facade system, developed by Nikken Sekkei for the Sony Tower in Osaka back in 2011. The reinterpretation of two ancient techniques by infusing them with existing technology, won the company the CTBUH 2014 award for Innovation. The system uses ceramic pipes which have rainwater harvested on the rooftop running through them. These pipes are exposed to the heat of the buildings surroundings which lets the water evaporate, thus, cooling the immediate surroundings. This second skin facade of Sony Tower reduces its cooling load while also eliminating Urban Heat Island Effect. The concept is similar to that of a Mashrabiya found in the gulf region. The Mashrabiya in olden times was an intricately carved screen that sometimes had a pot of water that cooled the hot air passing through the screen. Applying a similar concept to the gulf region, the BioSkin Facades could be applied in this region as well. Although the system uses rainwater, something that is not found in the gulf; the water could instead be replaced with grey water, which is found globally and can be sourced from the building itself. This would mean the existence of a second skin system that can be adapted and used globally, even in regions where rainwater harvesting is not feasible. References 1. Oliver, P. (2014). Built to Meet Needs. 2. Yamanashi, T. &. (2011). BIO SKIN urban cooling facade. Architectural Design. 3. Fathy, H. (1989). Natural Energy and Vernacular Architecture: Principles and Examples with Reference to Hot Arid Climates. United Nations University.

Biography :

Sundara Vadhana Gurushev is currently a 4th year undergraduate student in the B.Arch. program at the School of Design and Architecture at Manipal Academy of Higher Education-Dubai Campus. She is currently working on her design dissertation and thesis on the topic “Archetypes and Identities in Architecture”, that looks at the transition in Emirati Architecture from its vernacular form to the contemporary form. As President of the Conservation and Environment Team at MAHE-Dubai, she has actively been a part of various sustainability initiatives and has led the team to being winners of the Sustainable Campus Initiative by the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi. She is also a part of the UNGC Local Network as a Youth Ambassador.
Email:sundaravadhana_gurushev1@dxb.manipal.edu