This project was an opportunity to explore and push the boundaries of digital fabrication to create an intricate module that tackled the issues arising from living in a tropical climate. Drawing inspiration from our environment, we observed how the ribs of a cactus provide shade, reducing the surface area exposed to the sun and hence reducing the heat radiation absorbed by 67%. We aimed to apply this self-shading concept to our building. 

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To challenge the limits of concrete construction, we formed our module to form a fluid, organic structure, one that can only be achieved through digitally fabricated formwork. The middle section in the module is hollowed out, transforming it into a space available for people to use and interact with. Our final module combined an appropriate degree of porosity with the self shading function adapted from cactus. The permeability of the facade varies in accordance to the degree of privacy of the space within, maintaining an appropriate level of visual connection between the outside and the inside.

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October 2018