FLANBY 

Flanby is an optimized high-rise tower with a responsive facade reacting to solar exposure throughout the day. Based on the constraints of the context, the galapagos plug-in for grasshopper has been used in two stages of the design process. First for the optimization of the floor plan to 75% of the site area and secondly for the optimization of the volume in order to maximize solar exposure on the facades. 

PROCESS OF DESIGN  

LOCATION

For the site location the internal area of a block of the Eixample has been chosen.

FLOORPLAN OPTIMIZATION

For the generation of the floorplan, eight points have been constructed whose x-coordinates have been used as genes for galapagos to maximize the area up to 75% of the site area, without leaving the boundaries of the site.

SOLAR OPTIMIZATION

A combination of two solar studies has been used for the optimization process of the volume based on maximizing solar exposure. The genes used for galapagos are the scale factor of the top of the extrusion and the xy coordinates of its center. A restriction for optimization was for the extrusion to remain within the boundary of the site in order for it to not intersect with the surrounding buildings and to maintain a vertical core that would connect all the way through.

Solar analysis determining weather each mesh face is hit by the constructed solar vector.

Solar analysis determining the intensity of the exposure of each mesh face to the sun.

Optimization of the volume with galapagos based on maximizing the total solar exposure of the whole building.

RESPONSIVE FACADE

For the responsive skin of the building a system of sheets has been defined that open up and curl when not exposed to the sun, while they remain completely closed with maximum solar irradiance in order to provide shading for the spaces within.

FLANBY  is a project of IAAC, the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, developed during the Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA01) 2020/21 by students: Mira Housen  Alex Ferragu ; faculty: David Andrés León; faculty assistant: Ashkan Foroughi; and student assistants: Laukik Lad & Uri Lewis