Spatial Research & Development

“Polycarbonate is a high-performing thermoplastic that is widely used in building and construction products, from windows and skylights to wall panels and roof domes to exterior elements for LED lighting. Polycarbonate has a number of qualities that make it useful in these applications – it is lightweight and durable, with high optical clarity, high-impact and high-heat resistance, as well as excellent flammability resistance” (Building With Chemistry).

Source: Building With Chemistry, Polycarbonate in Building and Construction. https://buildingwithchemistry.org/chemistry-in-bc/polycarbonate-in-building-and-construction/. September, 2019.

“Whether applied to facades, interior spaces or roofs, the benefits of polycarbonate, such as lightness, clean lines, colored panels, and light effects, offer a wide range of design freedom” (González). 

Image/source: Arch Daily, Polycarbonate in Architecture: 10 Translucent Solutions. Francisca González, María. 7 November, 2018. https://www.archdaily.com/905378/polycarbonate-in-architecture-10-translucent-solutions. September, 2019.

Bunyesc Architects renovated the facade of an old house located in Pessonada, Spain. To improve the “living conditions” (crook) by increasing the structure’s “thermal efficiency” (Crook), they added polycarbonate plastic panels to the building's south-facing exterior wall.

“The new facade gives the building a completely different appearance. But – because it retains many of its original features – the house remains sympathetic to the traditional aesthetic of its neighbours, which cascade down a hill to the south of the Spanish Pyrenees”.

Translucent wood is another innovative material that is derived from an already existing and known building material. It was developed by a team of researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. 

“The transparent timber is created through a process that removes the chemical lignin from a wood veneer, causing it to become very white. This white porous veneer is then impregnated with a transparent polymer, matching the optical properties of the individual cells and making the whole material translucent” (Editorial).

Image/source: Arch Daily, Translucent Wood? Meet the New Material Developed by KTH.  Equipo Editorial. 13 April, 2016. https://www.archdaily.com/785482/translucent-wood-meet-the-new-material-developed-by-kth. September, 2019.

While translucent wood is not currently able to replace standard uses of wood in a building structure, due to size restrictions in the making process. Intended applications include being used as a replacement for glass windows. This is because the wood material has more structural integrity than glass and is less likely to shatter (Scharping).

Translucent concrete is a fairly new concrete based building material. “Light transmitting concrete is a mixture of optical glass fibres and fine concrete. It can be used as prefabricated blocks or panels. Thousands of optical glass fibres form a matrix and run parallel to each other between the two main surfaces of every block” (Litracon). These optical glass fibres transfer light between the two sides of the material. “Because of their parallel position the lighting on the brighter side of such a wall appears unchanged on the darker side” (Litracon).

Source: Design Build Network, Litracon - Light Transmitting Concrete. https://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/litracon/. September, 2019.

There are multiple brands that produce this material, some with enhanced/added features. 

Zospeum for example, “is made of fiber optics sandwiched between layers of insulation and concrete” (Zospeum). Because of this added insulation, it “offers much more thermal resistance“ (Zospeum).

Images/source: Metropolis, Clear Breakthrough: Zospeum Takes Translucent Concrete to Next Level. https://www.metropolismag.com/products/product-materials/clear-breakthrough-zospeum-takes-translucent-concrete-next-level/. September, 2019.

Another company I would like to mention is Lucem. They advertise/aim their translucent concrete product, majority combined with artificial light to create a feature out of facades.

“Fascinating luminous, translucent but nevertheless being a massive wall, translucent partition wall elements, decorative wall cladding, which at the same time provide for atmospheric mood light - LUCEM light transmitting concrete can be used for a wide range of applications.With a lighting technology based on LEDs, LUCEM can be illuminated in white or colored or become digital concrete” (Lucem).

Radiant Interior:

I am designing a ‘sunlight system’, that enables the transfer of natural sunlight from the exterior to the interior of a domestic dwelling. Alongside this system, I will be purposefully reconfiguring the interior layout of this dwelling. To ensure that the prioritised living/working spaces receive maximum intervention.

The dwelling I am working into is located at 112 Rakau Road, Hataitai. I am designing for my identified target audience of dwelling inhabitants. Who spend majority of their time inside their home. I.e. stay-home-parents and people who work from home consistently.

Detail Video

First iteration of my sunlight system and showing simply how the process would work.

Faux ceiling added

Opening created for a sunlight catcher

Sunlight moves into the ceiling space

Simple section sketch outlining how I will transfer sunlight from the exterior to the interior.

An explanation of how a tubular skylight works:

Most tubular skylights use a similar version of this system. A simple way to explain the process.

Velux markets their sun tunnels as a way to experience natural exterior lighting conditions in the indoor environment.

“Enjoy the changing light of dayNatural dynamic daylight brings your indoor spaces to life in ways that a simple lamp can’t.Bring spring’s energising rays to areas that you never thought possible or let summer sunshine bring out the best in your home. It’s not just sunshine that you’ll be able to experience. Changes in weather, passing clouds and even moonlight are reflected through the sun tunnel to give you a totally unique ‘living’ room”.

Majority of these types of ‘sunlight tubes’ use roof installation. At this stage I believe that I will have to intervene from the side of the dwelling as the flat in located on the ground level.

Video showing the solatube lighting process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&v=VOFw8Mb8Am0

Solatube has aspects that I would like to incorporate into my sunlight system, combined with the size of the Coelux panels.

“Our mission is to foster an innovative solution for lighting, architecture and real-estate industries aiming at creating the perception of an extraordinarily wide space, by means of a genuine physical reproduction of optical atmospheric phenomena indoors”

The Coelux lighting system recreates the “true effect” of sunlight conditions from the exterior environment, to the interior environment. Created through a replica skylight opening from a faux ceiling using artificial light

Article about Coelux: https://www.andrew-lucas.com/journal/coelux-exceptional-imitation-natural-illumination/

Image reference: https://www.coelux.com/en/pjc/residential-en-98

WHAT are you designing? An object, a specific space/room/ building, a time/ event/ experience:

I am designing a ‘sunlight system’, that enables the transfer of natural sunlight from the exterior to the interior. Where it would not normally be able to reach into. Alongside this system, I will be redesigning the interior layout of the house as to maximise effect for the prioritised ‘living/working’ spaces (rather than bedrooms).

For WHOM are you designing? A client, a user or group, an inhabitant:

I have identified the target audience of dwelling inhabitants who spend majority of their time inside their home. I.e stay-at-home parents and people who work from home consistently.

WHERE is the design? Location/ site/ address/ context/ dates/ virtual platform:

The site is located on 112b Rakau Street, Hataitai. Wellington. I am going to be working into this physical dwelling on a digital platform.

HOW are you designing? methods, processes, software- specific:

I will be designing through time-based media, 3D digital models, light renders and sketching/diagrams. Programs I will be using: photoshop, sketch up, indigo renderer, v-ray, vector-works or revit.

WHAT is the concepts/issues driving your project?