urbanLab Magazin 2021 - Transformation

virtual reality to allow spatial experience.
Visual models produced by rapid
prototyping have the power to explain
the aesthetical impact of complex façade
details. Moreover, another kind of
digitization in this early planning stage
is the digital platforms for product research
and comparison.
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT STAGE
Fig. 2: Finite element analysis assists with a prediction of the
structural behavior in the early planning stage
In this phase, the detail development of
the façade takes place. Metal workers,
cladding companies and system supplier
fine-tune the façade for its final
performance. A holistic detail design
that considers the complete façade life-cycle
is very important, as it influences
its fabrication, installation and the
recycling potential of the façade. When
a new product is designed, it is essential
to check if the performance criteria
(e.g. wind and water tightness, security
issues) are met. These tests were
mainly executed after completion of
the detail development process, with
physical mockups in the test laboratory.
If the new developed product failed
in one of those tests, an alteration of
the product could be very time-consuming
and costly. Nowadays, modern
digital simulation methods provide the
possibility to run preliminary tests that
allow for a performance check and fine-tuning
of the system in the ongoing
product development. Finite element
tools for example assist to analyze
the façade according to thermal and
acoustical properties and its structural
behavior (Figure 2).
Thanks to these tools it is possible to
make predictions regarding the façade
performance in aspects like wind and
air tightness, punctual structural impacts
from flying parts as well as effects
of seismic activities (Arztmann, 2018).
The change to three-dimensional construction
drawings in addition to rapid
prototyping for complex details, enables
a simplified solution identification.
Combined with new generative design
methods like the geometry or topology
optimization, the design of a new generation
of sustainable and resilient façades
seems to be possible. Although the
simulation of a façade construction in
the early planning stage offers great
opportunities to fine-tune a system
design, it must be understood as a preliminary
check of the design that does
not replace the final check of a façade
system via laboratory tests.
FAÇADE FABRICATION
P. Riechmann, Schüco
The future of digitized façade fabrication
seems to move towards restructuring
the façade workshops based on
cyber-physical systems (CPS). Luber
and Litzel (2019) define these systems
as mechanical components that are
interconnected in a network or with
modern information techniques. These
CPS are already found in todays´
façade workshops in the form of digitally
connected machineries. These
machineries are supplied with specific
production data coming out of the
planning and development phase and
they are able to control the different
processing steps like milling, sawing,
116 DATA DRIVEN DESIGN