In this ongoing research, the thermobimetal, a smart sheet metal that curls when heated, is used as a shutter system between two surfaces of glass to control the amount of light entering a building while retaining the maximum amount of daylighting and view. Since the thermobimetal is high conductive, the material will react directly to the sun's rays despite the outdoor temperature. The geometry and the patterns in the thermobimetal surface are critical in order to reach optimal operation of the system. Variables will be the location, building orientation, envelope shape, context, climate and target interior temperature. If calibrated correctly, the building's heat gain will be reduced, which will markedly contribute to overall energy savings.
Current research on double-glazed windows, double-facade systems and cast-glass blocks (patents pending) is in development. When available to the market, these components will operate independent of power sources--with no energy and no controls.
Lead Designers/Researchers:
Doris Sung (Principal Investigator), Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, and Principal, DOSU Studio Architecture
Completion Date:
Ongoing research
Doris Sung
After receiving her B.A. at Princeton University and M.Arch. at Columbia University, Doris Sung worked in various offices in cities across the U.S. before arriving in Los Angeles in 2001. She developed her research focus while teaching at University of Southern California (USC), the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), University of Colorado and the Catholic University of America.
In 1999, she opened her office, dO|Su Studio Architecture, and soon received many AIA and ASID awards for her work, including the prestigious accolades of AIA Young-Designer-of-the-Year, ACSA Faculty Design Award, R+D Honorable Mention from Architect Magazine and [next idea] award from ARS Electronica.
Currently, she is working on developing smart thermobimetals and other shape-memory alloys, unfamiliar materials to architecture, as new materials for the "third" skin (the first is human flesh, the second clothing and the third architecture). Its ability to curl when heated allows the building skin to respond for purposes of sun-shading, self-ventilating, shape-changing and structure-prestressing. Her work has been funded by the national AIA Upjohn Initiative, Arnold W. Brunner Grant, Graham Foundation Grant, Architectural Guild Award and USC ASHSS and URAP Awards. Her TEDxUSC talk is available on ted.com.
.jpg)
