Material: Pine bark
Functions: Sustainable rain and sun protection for buildings
Application: As a facade that adapts to the outdoor climate
»The city of the future will have a new face« – at least according to this workshop group. Together, they speculated on how the active properties of bark could be utilized in the future, drawing on their knowledge as architects, researchers, teachers, and family managers. As a group, they imagined scale-like panels that could be used as building facades. In wet weather or high humidity, the panels would lie flat and protect the inside of the building from rain. In sunny and dry weather, the panels would bulge due to the internal material properties of the bark, similar to the opening of the scales on pine cones. The resulting curved structures could allow natural air circulation and provide pleasant shade.
»We looked at how bark absorbs moisture and thus changes its structure. We would mainly use the inner layers of bark, which are very flexible. In high humidity, the facade would tend to lie flat and act as rain protection. If the weather turns sunny and dry, the shape of the bark would also change. This would produce bulges, which are intended to improve air circulation behind the facade. In addition, the curved structures would cast shadows and thus provide sun protection.«