Extended Thresholds III: Auxiliary Architectures

Abstract

In Turkey, there exists a rich tradition of auxiliary architecture that is supplementary to permanent domestic structures. In hot climates, it often provides essential shade, either as standalone shelter or as transitional spaces between the cool interior and the sun-exposed exterior. It is a history that offers great potential for innovative sustainable solutions that require little or no energy. M Mi ic ch ha ae el l H He en ns se el l a an nd d D De ef fn ne e S Su un ng gu ur ro og gl lu u H He en ns se el l Around a hundred students undertook experiments to develop different membrane and cable-net systems, deploying form-finding methods and analysing through physical and digital models the capacity of their systems to modulate sunlight, self-shading and shading patterns. The experiments culminated in the development of 20 different systems at the model scale and two full-scale installations.above: The photos show 12 of the 20 final models demonstrating the integral relationship between membrane arrays and cable-net arrangements and exploring the reduction of necessary anchor points for the systems, while maintaining their intricate articulation.opposite left: Initial experiments focused on membrane articulations and the proliferation of membranes into arrays that can be set within more complex cable-net arrangements. 78 opposite right: Based on physical form-finding experiments, digital models of the membrane and cable-net systems were developed using Rhino Membrane software, utilising dynamic relaxation, an iterative mathematical process, in order to digitally form-find the respective membrane and cable-net configurations. The digital models facilitate digital analysis of each membrane and cable-net arrangement with regard to environmental performance.

The Lampedusa Studio: A Multimethod Pedagogy for Tackling Compound Sustainability Problems in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design

“…Extended thresholds [17][18][19] elaborating the interface between buildings and their context as a way of improving key sustainable development performance criteria; 3.…”

Creating ecologically sound buildings by integrating ecology, architecture and computational design

“…We propose that the building envelope can be designed in a novel way, to host local species communities, including plants, animals and other organisms such as microbiota. In recent years, a renewed interest in transitional spaces and non‐energy based solutions (Hensel & Hensel, 2010a; Hensel & Hensel, 2010b; Hensel & Hensel, 2010c) that deploy natural ventilation and thermal mass and inertia (the so‐called free‐running buildings) has emerged (Baker & Standeven, 1996). This renewed focus on the purpose of the building envelope in the architectural discourse offers new possibilities for multi‐species design.…”

Envelopes and exteriority

“…Non-discrete envelopes are separated into three types: extended thresholds, dissolved thresholds, and multiple envelopes. Extended thresholds have been extensively discussed as transitional spaces that are shaped through multiple, articulated, and animated screens or layers of materials, or thick (wall) structures either through studies of historical cases (Hensel & Sunguroğlu Hensel, 2010a, 2010b, 2010c or more contemporary examples and discussions (Hensel, 2011;Hensel & Turko, 2015, pp. 38-50 & 178-269).…”