advanced building skins 14 | 15 June 2012 - lamp.tugraz.at - Graz ...

Advanced Building Skins
Figure 10: Metal cladding at the skylights. Partial assembling next to the site (left); visualization of the main
components (middle). Pre-assembling on site (right). (Werner Sobek Stuttgart)
4 Conclusions
Building highly complex freeform buildings skins calls for a change in planning process from 2D
drawings to 3D digital models. Nowadays standard planning tools support a quick architectural design
of highly complex surfaces. However, the detailing, production and erection of such envelopes
remains a very complex and challenging task. Several aspects (building physics, thermal behaviour,
load bearing capacity, production processes, etc.) need to be synthesized during the overall
engineering process. The first step is the definition of detailing and production principles which could
be adapted to different geometrical and loading conditions. The second step is the implementation of
the information into a 3D model and the finding of suitable interfaces to transfer data. Parametric rules
have to be identified to match all the different conditions, so that the process could be automated as
much as possible by means of scripted tools. Such a process allow for complex surfaces to be
materialized with an impressive end quality, while still keeping the costs within a reasonable range.
5 Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Foundation “Casa Natale Enzo Ferrari” for having made this museum
possible. A special thanks is also due to the architect Andrea Morgante (Shiro Studio), to the structural
engineer Fabio Camorani (Politenica) and all the contractors involved in the façade work (Teleya, Pinical,
etc.) and in the site coordination (CdC) for the very good collaboration.
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