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S H A D E S C U L P T

Team member(s): , , and
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The emergence of additive manufacturing has expanded the horizon for developing designs that are not only more environmentally sustainable but also commercially viable, addressing critical issues in our surroundings. In the field of architecture, multi-material 3D printing opens up a compelling opportunity to imbue intelligence into the surfaces of our built environment by thoughtfully selecting and pairing materials, streamlining intricate multi-part systems into a unified, composite component.

Our innovative concept, named ShadeSculpt, utilizes the self-shading capabilities of materials to create walls and structures that can autonomously regulate exposure to sunlight. This is achieved through the incorporation of materials with inherent shading properties, reducing the need for external shading devices.

The genesis of our project lies in a one-week workshop focused on additive manufacturing. Throughout this workshop, we acquired the skills to program an ABB IRB 140 – 6 Axis Robot to perform single-nozzle, multi-material 3D printing. The primary objective was to leverage the rotational capability of the nozzle to control the extrusion of two distinct materials. In our case, we employed materials with self-shading properties to illustrate the functional advantages of multi-material additive manufacturing, exemplified by the concept of ShadeSculpt.

State of the Art

01. State of the Art printing techniques and Strategies

02. Multispecies habitat for urban wildlife. Modular ceramics 3D printed in clay

Symbiotics spaces
(Reference: https://symbioticspaces.net/symbioticspace-in-hildesheim/)

03. A Passive Cooling Wall System

BioFence
(Reference:  https://www.iaacblog.com/programs/bio-fence-c-biom-thesis-studio/)

Computational Strategy

Delineating and diagramming the computational rules for the geometry system based on the robotic performance analysis

Solar Radiation Analysis

Overhang Angle Analysis

Refining design through iterative exploration of wall openings, emphasizing purposeful insect inclusion.

Surface Development

The digital exploration and design drivers that led to the formation of the final prototype

Deriving Surface Solar Pattern

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The radiation amount on the surface, as performed by ladybug analysis, is remapped to give the robotic toolpath for dual-materiality in the prototype. The performative design assigns the regions with more radiation or solar exposure a higher albedo colour; the white clay and the shaded zones are given low albedo colour; red clay, making the design more efficient in its solar performance via its own design.

Time Estimation based on Rotation and Curve Lengths.

Initial estimate: 18 minutes. Actual time: 22 minutes.

Sample Analysis

Application Iteration

Applicable Scaling of this prototype in Public Spaces

Final Outcome

Assembly of all the six prototypes

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S H A D E S C U L P T is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia developed in the Master in Robotics & Advanced Construction - 2023-2024 by the student(s) , , and during the course MRAC01 23/24 Workshop 1.1 "Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing" with Ricardo Mayor.