Atmosphere evolutive surface

http://vcacontent.velux.com/ivashowcase2012/Search.aspx?s=win

 

Projects

1st prize
	Students: Bo Li, Ge Men Teacher: Luka Piskorec School: ETHZ-Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Zürich Country: Switzerland
View description "Resonance, memory" The idea of this work is based on a hypothetical mudflow, which happens in part of the swiss alps – by the enormes collapsing force and huge volume of earth, a tiny village is buried. In order to regain the atmosphere of the tiny village, over 700 pieces of pmma columns are planted into the earth.Overground, thanks to the different lengths of the material, columns generate abstract forms of different prototypes of houses from swiss rural area. People would again pick up the identical scale of the former village and empathize, however in a metaphorical way. Meanwhile, the sunlight is being transmitted through the pmma columns into underground. In subterrainean space, by special fabricated pmma and help of 95% transported sunlight, the columns are illuminating and showing the volume of a memorable architectural ensemble. To arouse the emotional resonance, parts of both overground and underground objects are kept void. So that besides the 70cm span between two columns, people are allowed to enter larger space in this work, which represents the intimate former rooms in the buried houses. A chair, a table, a small potting plant, in this new but familiar luminant space, poetically recall the memory... View jury comment The idea of this work is based on an idea of a hypothetical mudflow in the Swiss Alps where a tiny village is buried. The project works with columns of polymethyl methacrylate (PPMA) – a transparent thermoplastic – planted into the earth as a metaphorical representation of the former village. Sunlight is being transmitted through the columns into the subterranean space, where they illuminate a poetic memory of the architectural ensemble of the intimate former rooms in the buried houses – with representations of furniture in luminous spaces. The project tackles the very important question of light, bringing sunlight through reflective columns into underground spaces that would normally not get any light. The project is impressive because it addresses the scales of landscape, bringing light into unexpected spaces even down to a chair and a table. It touches three distinct scales very eloquently, very powerfully and in a more comprehensive manner than any of the other projects. At the same time it reconnects us to the memory of things that were once there. The powerful idea of memory, of the subconscious was included in the project.

2nd prize
	Students: Jeewon Park, Nakyong Kim, Jiyoon Joung, Kimoon Park, Wongyu Yang Teacher: Jang Min Lee School: Inje University Country: Republic Of Korea
View description "The Mongolian dandelion seed, impregnated with light" It is not about forming a people with an identity and exclusiveness who settle down to live natives, but it starts from the thinking of a nomad that does not stick to a fixed form and rule always on the move like wind and a cloud, keeping life free from idee fixe and hierarchy of a settled community. Concept The Mongolian dandelion seeds, with fluff called pappi, move around on a wind before they alight on the ground to sprout and flower to spread seeds anew. This lifestyle shares many characteristics with the life of nomads who never settle down. In other words, while they wander around, nomads settle in a place to organize various acts and changeable spaces until they disperse, which reminds us of the behavior of dandelion seeds. We propose 'the Mongolian dandelion seeds impregnated with light' that will serve the freedom-chasing nomads and travelers as their nests as well as their company in journeys. Material of the neo-ball From those polyesters including polyhydroxyalkanoate and PHA that abound in such biomasses as microalgae and red algae, polymers with various properties ranging from plastics to rubbers can be made. We use such eco-friendly rubber. Is the helium has inside the neo-ball. Temperature difference Sand has a very small specific heat capacity, getting very hot during the day and chilling off in the night to create great daily temperature difference. It is the same temperature difference that expands and contracts the neo-ball we play with. Expansion of the neo-ball When temperature goes up, the helium gas in the neo-ball becomes active, expanding the neo-balls. And as this expansion narrows the gaps between the neo-balls, obstructing the sunlight and creating shadows. Contraction of the neo-ball As temperature goes down, the gas in the neo-ball gets less active and the neo-ball contracts. The gaps between the neo-balls widen to open up the ceiling into the nightly sky. The solar energy amassed during the day is used as the light source for the optical fiber. Liquidity As they float up in the air, they can be freely moved to plan a space arrangement. Solar system The neo-ball has a solar collector built on the top, which is connected to the optical fiber inside the neo-ball. During the day, it works to accumulate solar energy, and at night it uses the energy to create illumination using the light source of the optic fiber. It can also serve as a heating system as it can emits heat when needed. Optical fiber The neo-ball has optical fiber inside, the length of which can be freely adjusted. (Space partition, heat emission and illumination). View jury comment The Mongolian dandelion seeds move around with the wind before they alight on the ground to sprout and flower – to finally spread seeds anew. This cycle shares many characteristics with the life of nomads who never settle down. Nomads are constantly on the move and rest in changeable spaces until they disperse again. The project proposes "the Mongolian dandelion seeds, impregnated with light"; which is "neoballs" – made of an eco-friendly rubber based on microalgae and red algae – filled with helium. The neo-balls expand and contract with temperature and serve the nomads and travelers as their nests as well as their company in journeys. A solar collector connected to an optical fiber inside the neo-ball will accumulate solar energy during the day, and at night it creates illumination and heating. The project is a totally remarkable project. The idea of helium balls with solar collectors and optical fibres that work from day to night, bringing light into a lot of different conditions, ceremonial spaces, a medical clinic, and for special events. Again the project addresses different scales from the actual object – the helium ball of light – and then making architecture out of the glowing pieces allowing spaces to be recreated in new ways. It is an exemplary project and also impressively presented.

3rd prize
	Students: Qi Xu, Tao Cao Teacher: Fangji Wang School: Tongji University Country: China
View description "Stroking the sunshine" In consideration of energy, humans always want to catch the most amount of sunshine to the fullest extent permitted by the function. While designing a room, designers always open a lot of big windows to get full sunshine for everybody. It is known that the sunshine is uniformly distributing in the room. That leads to an overuse of sunshine, also, a waste of energy, a difficulty of individual behavior. A simple light environment cannot meet individuals' needs of light due to the different activities. The sunshine should be privatized to everyone. Everyone should has his own right to decide his own light environment. Stroking the sunshine An Adjustable Bubble Curtain Curtain is the most common shade in daily life. Bubble can adjust its volume in a large range. The bubble curtain combines the two characters to control the amount of sunshine by changing the bubbles' volume. Therefore three kinds of light conditions could be created, bright, gentle, dark, for a single person. A new relationship between human and sunshine would be built. The bubbles are made of silicon rubber which is resilient inert and light-proof, fixed on the inside of the glass wall. People squeeze air out – reducing the bubbles' size to let more sunshine through the curtain, changing the sunshine around the body without disturbing others. Due to the higher pressure in the system, then, the air would slowly back flow to the squeezed bubbles. Also, volumes of all the bubbles could be adjusted with the pressure in the system to regulate the whole illumination. Light of tomorrow It can be expected that sunshine could be fairly distributed to everyone, and what's more, regulated by a remotely-control device in the pocket. Resembling meteors shot across the sky, the sunshine spots accompany with individual movements. That would make unprecedented spaces and make better use of the valuable solar energy. View jury comment The project works with a responsive bubble curtain that controls the amount of sunlight by changing the bubbles' volume. It suggests a new relationship between human and sunshine in a building – allowing you as an individual to be close to it and, by the touch of a hand, the light will be more bright, gentle or dark. The curtain-like experience enables the individual to alter the degree of light needed, changing the sunshine around the body without disturbing others. It is a wonderful project with a lot of technical exploration – looking into pneumatic systems and adjustable volumes that relate directly to light, but also trying to understand the role of the individual and how light impacts people on a daily basis. The project represents efforts and ideas, and the representation is very strong and visual.

3rd prize
	Students: Anna Zagorec, Maciej Kozłowski Teacher: Jolanta Sroczyńska School: Politechnika Krakowska Country: Poland
View description "Light as tool to break the structure" We were searching for inspiration in photography, relation light with material and shape. We ask ourselves the question: Light change perception of form and form create space OR form determine creation of light and light create space In our project we focus on creating form and illusion of space by using light. How light can make atmosphere of place and create different spaces by casting shadow. We found our inspiration during the photo research. Taking photos bring us closer to different kind of light effects. We focused on indirect light, reflection, light slit and light transmission by mirrors. Light emerging from the closed door between light and dark room aroused our curiosity concerning the light slit. Trying to hide source of light, we create "wall" build of two rows of surface broken into an array of modules. Our main module is based on two surfaces. External part let in lights into module. Internal shape is triangular thanks to possibility of modification let as stimulate direction of the light and make different patterns on. For more interaction in the architecture we leave right part of the building open to public. This part is not covered that's why is very light. Thanks to this difference in lighting, movement of people can be seen on the opposite side of the wall. People have an impact on changing perception of architecture. People's movement cause changing shapes of shadows. Theirs movement with combination with modules' variations achieve motion in shape of each shadows cast on the wall. View jury comment The project searches for inspiration in photography and the relation between light, material and form. The project works with an amazing screen where the light and shadows and interaction are depending on people on the other side of the screen so that density and intensity are based on people's movements. You do not see the people, but you are reading or measuring or getting the impression of their shadows. It is a very conceptual project, but also technically very well thought through and the renderings really describe this very illusive but beautiful condition.

Honourable mention
	Students: Qingsong Han, He dong Peng, Peishu Han Teacher: Hao Li School: Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology Country: China
View description ""Memory of light" The city wall of Xi'an has a long history. It once served to defend invaders and protect its citizens. In modern times, it serves as a symbol of the city, and contributes to city life by offering places for activities. Daylight renders the holes in the city wall very appealing, as if the unevenness is telling people about the stories of the ancient city. Using new bricks to fill the holes as a way for historic heritage protection does not appear to be a very appropriate solution, since tales of the city wall are lost during the process. Emerged from the highly energy-consuming light, the city wall looks like a dead corpse presented to people in the modern city night. Aim 1. To explore a new method for sustainable preservation and restoration of city wall. 2. To extend the charm and energy of daylight into the night to retell the stories of city wall. 3. To increase the space quality at the foot of the city wall. Proposal We designed a special kind of city wall bricks that can store daylight in the day and give off light at night. The new bricks serve to restore broken old ones, as well as to prevent the potential damages caused by weathering and settlement from happening. The bricks will be used to replace the inharmonious, high energy-consuming electric lights and cables. Every act of restoration and preservation will be an update for city wall's memories, which are expressed to us using light stored during day time. Having absorbed sunlight energy in the day, the luminous bricks exhibit a figure-ground relation at night, which allows for the memory of daylight to last till the dawn of tomorrow. The gentle light of memory lightens up the space at the foot of the city wall. This realizes its space value in the park at night, since it offers various possibilities for human activities. Restoration and preservation methods We concluded 3 kinds of damages that might occur to city wall bricks, and each kind forms a particular expression on the wall. Using the new bricks we designed, we can: 1. Fill the holes after the old bricks fall off; 2. Substitute the old bricks damages caused by natural weathering; 3. Restore the bricks damaged by human activities. The different operations mentioned above can form different patterns, showing different brightness at night. Together with reflection from the ground, it defines spaces for activities. Experiments With actual model, we successfully simulated city wall's expression in a day cycle, and studied the function that elevation plays in defining spaces. With computer models, we visualized our thoughts on how the expression would change over long spans of time. View jury comment The project works with the Xi'an city wall that serves as a symbol of the city and contributes to city life by offering places for activities. The conventional way of using new bricks to fill the holes as a way for historic heritage protection is in this project replaced with wall bricks that can collect solar energy in the day and emit light at night. The bricks will replace the inharmonious, high energy-consuming electric lights and cables and create a memory of daylight to last till the dawn of tomorrow. The students have worked successfully with scale model studies and computer renderings in an analytical and well documented research. It is a very strong project – based on a simple idea – and elaborated to the last detail in a convincing way.

Honourable mention
	Students: Bin Jiang, Haiting Ye, Peixin Xu, Yiqin Zhu, Tenghan Zhang Teacher: Liang Yu School: Tongji Zhejiang College Country: China
View description "Redefinition of the skylight" Our thoughts are from chinese traditional paper-cut, we deal the sunlight with filtering, we want to express some certain messages through this. We use the way of filtering the sunlight, use sand to express the sunlight. Our thoughts come from paper-cut, but it is more active than paper-cut. We use the most ordinary material – sand and the most original way to build interacting and communicating between light and human beings, without doubting , it must be a complete new breakthrough of human beings? Knowledge. Light, it is a ressource which is the most easiest getting and most pure one in the nature. In our equipment, we intruduce the human activities, we treat human as a pen, draw different pictures on the sand through human activities. When it be installed in a mall, it becomes a environmental friendly billboard of light. It can send message which sellers want to express to project onto the ground with sunlight, and in makes people in the billboard of three-dimension. If there is a speech in the square, our skylight can project the logo of the speech activities, and together with some brief words and pictures which can help to express the ideas of the speech. with the pure contract between the light and dark, it can make a convenience atmosphere. When the Memorial Day is coming, we can draw the certain picture to express a message, serious or happy, to the citizen. In the common day, this skylight will become a good place to people, children can draw pictures with the sand, or build different shapes, artists can find the creating ideas under the changeable light, people who are busy everyday, can stop here to relax themselves. View jury comment The project works with filtering light by the use of sand - spread on an elevated plaza with a transparent surface that covers a mall or a public space below. The sand covered surface becomes literally an environment friendly billboard of light. Inspired by Chinese traditional paper-cut, humans become a pen that can draw pictures and messages in the sand and convene messages onto the ground below with sunlight. The project addresses a big common space and the important issue of controlling and interacting with light – rather than magnifying light. It addresses urban and social interaction, and the idea of using sand as shading material is a simple, strong as well as a very intriguing idea. The project represents a series of works around the same idea of using sand, but other projects did not communicate the idea and solution as clear as this.

Honourable mention
	Students: Albert Mercader Teacher: Jordi Hidalgo School: Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Girona Country: Spain
View description "Out, in" This meditation space is part of a project of a hospital located in Sudan. This is a cube apparently closed to the outdoor. At first glance we realize its opacity. We enter. Inside, but, there's no complete darkness. The light filters timidly trough the drilling of the walls, and it is at the upper part where is more intense. The duality of inside and outside is the basis of the project, that it wants to note the contrast. This causes a false look and an awesome feel inside the building. The secret is two parallel walls, one outside opaque and other inner perforated. A simple brick lattice achieves a surprising effect. View jury comment The project suggests a cube that apparently is an opaque monolith. Inside, however, light filters timidly trough holes in the facade. The duality of inside and outside is the idea of the project that is based on a double skin facade; the outside skin being opaque and the inner wall made of a brick lattice. The project demonstrates a wonderful surprise – a oneliner – and a play with light in a very simple presentation that intrigued the jury.

Honourable mention
	Students: Pit Herold, Mads Johnsen, Kasper Old Jensen, Peter Drechsler Poulsen Teacher: Thomas Hilberth School: Arkitektskolen i Aarhus Country: Denmark
View description Light & wind Our project concerns a new way of thinking daylight and how it affects the atmosphere and aesthetic qualities of a room. The project is heavily inspired from the random, yet beautiful way that daylight and weather conditions can change the feeling and experience of the indoor. By adding the movement of wind into an entire, visibly changing, pixilated wall of light, you not only get an exciting experience of the daylight from an aesthetic point of view but also a system which constantly changes and takes shape from the surrounding environment. By combining the indoor and outdoor lighting conditions in this way, you break the barrier between the inside and outside leaving a more unified experience of daylight. One of the strong reference points in our creation process was the beautiful sight of the wind playing with a wheatfield. While one straw waving alone in the wind isn't that amazing a sight, combining hundreds or thousands of these straws side by side suddenly creates a fascinating ever-changing picture. We wanted to capture those feelings in an indoor experience of the daylight, and this is were the idea for a wall of light was born. The wall is a combination of numerous glass objects formed like droplets. The spherical part of the droplet is mounted in a wall-socket, with half of the sphere peaking through to the inside. Meanwhile the part of the droplet pointing outwards, a wing-like form, is affected by the winds blowing on the outside, causing the entire droplet to rotate in its socket, from side to side or up and down. Due to a gradient in the glass material this rotation affects the amount of light which passes through each droplet. In the end, this results in a "pixilated" wall with a lively exciting visualization of the daylight and the wind." View jury comment The project considers how daylight affects the atmosphere and aesthetic qualities of a room – inspired by the random and beautiful way that daylight and weather conditions can change the feeling and experience of the indoor. By adding the movement of wind into a wall of light, the system constantly changes and take shape from the surrounding environment. This project represents a number of daylight and wind projects – where this particular proposal sticks out. The conceptual idea and inspiration by how light and wind play with a field of straws is very strong. The visual representation of the actual experience of the application could, however, be stronger.

Honourable mention
	Students: Ovidiu Mihutescu, Andrei Lazar, Radu Dorgo, Adrian Mihai Teacher: Bogdan Demetrescu School: Universitatea Politehnica din Timisoara Country: Romania
View description ""Interactive natural light source" After being defeated by the soviet army in the second World War, Romania was assimilated into the communist block. In 1961 communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu rose to power, instituting his ""cultural revolution"" and personal dictatorship. In architecture this marked an age of low cost construction and ultra-condensed living. The large apartment buildings were made for the hundreds of thousands relocated from their rural setting in order to provide the work force necessary for the gigantic industrial platforms. This type of living situation was far from temporary, despite it's impersonal style and lacking aesthetics. The idea behind this way of living, was the negation of anything original, or personal and to contribute to the birth of the ""new man"", a man to the liking of the regime. The city of Timisoara was no exception. From '74 to '88 huge ""bedroom neighbourhoods"" were built of large prefabricated concrete panels. At the end of the 80s over two thirds of Timisoara's population was residing in this type of accomodation. In order to mass a great number of people in a very limited space, and to do it fast and cheap, aesthetics, function and natural lighting were compromised. The issue we mean to address is that of the unilluminated staircases that are found in such high-density residences. We studied the city of Timisoara, Romania. It has a population of 311,586 and more than 40% of them have this issue. Solution The porposal is a device composed of a solar tracking concentrator and a light tube. The solar tracking concentrator consists of 9 low cost, injection plastic alluminisated, petals. Each one adjustes itself separately, and can seek the sun with the help of inexpensive microprocessor, stepper motor and light sensors to determine the best angle for each petal (idea inspired by Bill Gross – TED.com). The light is channeled by a tube consisting of reflective segments made out of injection mold plastic obtained from recycled bottles. The conic shape with varying angles helps to distribute the light in all directions. The segments are held together with thin steel wires and they snap into place like in the image shown below. View jury comment The project addresses the problem of un-illuminated staircases where daylight is compromised; conditions that can be found in many high-density residential buildings. The concrete proposal is a device composed of a solar tracking concentrator consisting of aluminium petals that seek the sun. The light is channelled by a tube of bendable and reflective segments made of recycled plastic. The project offers a simple intervention that is applicable in many existing buildings. It is addressing the huge need for renovation of the existing building stock – and this proposal is very refreshing – as well as it offers a non-conventional interaction and direct dialogue with daylight in the scale of a stairway. The project is beautifully and very clearly communicated.

Honourable mention
	Students: Francisco Ferreira, João Santos Teacher: Jorge Sousa Santos School: Universidade Lusíada - Lisboa Country: Portugal
View description ""Light is matter" The five states of matter are: solid, liquid, gas, plasma and condensed; however, they are all unable to explain light within the laws of physics. Some have tried to explain light according to rational Cartesian logic: in the XIX century, believing that light needed a material medium in order to travel, ether was defined as a substance; tenuous, not very dense and practically without mass, which made up all of space and that was responsible for the movement of light from the sun to the earth. However, these theories were not able to stand the rigor and precision that physics requires. This failure allows us to question whether Light should belong to the realms of metaphysics. Imagine what a laser is capable of. It is matter that is condensed to such a point that it may, with ease and speed, create pressure on, or even destroy an object. It can destroy a specific area. Or gas, that within fluorescent lamps emanates light and creates a condensed visual barrier. Light as a barrier. Time does not exist, the earth spins on its two axes and the sun is its center. Light as the revealer of movement. The light transforms objects before our eyes in the way that it envelops them, changing identity and sense of solidity of the material. Even so, we repeatedly commit the error of associating light with the realm of fire, recognizing its ethereal and volatile nature and eliminating the physical character that its delicate weight presents. Light is not abstract, it is a concrete and material. Light has the capacity to create pressure, and is therefore tangible. It designates movement in space, transforming space in Time. It encloses visual barriers, and therefore space, altering the tridimensional perception of Man. Then, light is architecture, physical architectonic matter with the ability to configure space. If we attribute the tectonic qualities that belong to heavy materials, such as stone, concrete and iron, to light, it stops being a material that simply configures space to one that is architectural. Constructed from light. The building as an object that is intelligible within the theme – in this case light – without being a vessel for representations of the theme, through spatial articulations or singular atmospheric compositions. The building that demonstrates its purpose in its very being. A construction of light A generic, closed, commercial or cultural program is proposed during periods of activity; and a public square, elevated above the space of implementation on the day of the main activity I deactivated. A construction of an ephemeral character that is sedentary or mobile, serves the planned event for the various durations and sites. The construction is composed by an elevated platform, a 2m x 2m grid of mirrored pillars, four volumes and a covering. The configuration of the spaces is made up by impermeable textile elements. These dimensions are suggestions. There are no predefined routes, free movement on the platform is encouraged by the lightness and the transparency of the structures that define the area of the exposition. The only barriers are the volumes. These black boxes provide the technical areas: wc, cafeteria and storage spaces. Lighting is installed in the bases of all of the pillars. The mirrors on the pillars and the covering create a diaphanous mass, accentuating the unitary, global identity that the proposal requires. A construction made of light." View jury comment The project suggests a construction of an ephemeral character – permanent or mobile – and made of light. It is composed as an elevated platform with a grid of mirrored pillars, four volumes and a covering. It considers an object that is intelligible within the theme – in this case light – without being a vessel for representations of the theme, through spatial articulations or singular atmospheric compositions. The building demonstrates its purpose in its very being. The project is nicely articulated and the graphical representation is very strong. The jury would, however, have appreciated a little more information – such as an explanation of how light is dematerialized and how the surfaces are solved.

Honourable mention
	Students: DeXiao Zeng, Zhao Gao, Tianchi Chen Teacher: Suqi Jiang School: Hunan University Country: China
View description Light drama The moon pool, located in West Street of Changsha, Hunan Province, China, which belongs to the old district of the city, has a long history, where people had a simple and quiet life. But with the development of city, contradiction between city expansion and the old city goes worse. The old city is faced with demolition, and the construction continue to rise. What we lost is not only just some old buildings but also the culture of street life. Invisible valuable resources are gradually disappearing, leaving some old people and left-behind children in this piece of land. The moon pool has been surrounded by new high buildings. Because of the space between the new buildings is too small, the original bright ancient lane becomes dark, resulting the main living space of the old and children has been seriously affected. With the gradual deterioration of the environment, ancient lane appeared a lot of bad behavior, such as theft, robbery, affray. What's more, people can't chat, play chess, and etc. pleasantly like before in the lane. As a consequence, the original ancient lane has become a negative space of city. The introduction of natural light is the key to activate the negative space of ancient lanes. We try to use one of the most direct and simple way to solve this problem: allowing natural light to bend. The folding characteristics of Chinese lantern inspired us. We use a piece of paper to fold into a light guide device, whose turning surface can guide natural light to the streets to ensure that in daytime the lane could receive natural light. Moreover, and through the device forms of stretching and bending we can control the brightness and morphology of natural light. The device supplies natural light for the ancient lane. With the morphological changes the device can create different effects of the light and shape different space like a theater stage, providing various possibilities for people's activities. View jury comment The project considers a specific old district of a city where the development and expansion with new high buildings have changed the culture of street life; the original bright ancient streets becomes dark, resulting in the main living space of the old and the children having been seriously affected. The project introduces daylight as the key to activate the spaces and ancient streets. The project uses the folding of characteristic Chinese lanterns to fold a light guide device that guides natural light to the streets. This project represents a series of projects that consider the challenges of dense city areas as well as the use of simple low-tech or recycled applications, which bring light to street level. The jury appreciates the students' work with models as well as the nice and convincing presentation of the study.

Honourable mention
	Students: Manu Simon, Maïté Oldenhove, Simon Verstraete, Laura Schmitt Teacher: Jean-Luc Capron School: Université Catholique de Louvain U.C.L. Country: Belgium
View description "Atmosphere evolutive surface" The first idea of the project is to have a passive object that changes its appearance with the weather. Indeed, the urban places and furniture are seldom designed to respond to weather conditions. This means the object shouldn't move, but the atmospherical conditions will change its appearance over time. This phenomenon is generated by a surface, that retains water and creates thin geometrical puddles. These puddles evolve overtime and create slow water works. They reflect the environment and the sky. Beside that, there are dry surfaces, and the contrasts between wet and dry ground gives us the perception of the public space at the moment it's seen. This is done by combining two different paving modules repeatedly over the surface. These two modules have different slopes, and these slopes create puddles in which the water is kept until it dries. With the different slopes we get different water levels at a same time. The pavingstones are modules of 100 by 100 cm with a depth of 2 cm. This means the surface is usable by walkers when dry. The material used is poured concrete, which is a little porous and absorbs the water. The water levels are generated by rain. The water stays in the puddles and the whole surface of the paving stone is submerged. Then we have the whole surface of the place, acting like a great mirror, with almost the appearance of a basin. In addition to this, we have thewater drops creating moves upon the water surface. When it stops raining, the water remains for awhile in the hole, but slowly begins to evaporate and is absorbed by the material. The water level goes down and we first have a subtle difference between the water surface and the wet material. When the material dries, we get higher contrast. At this time the slopes of the paving stones generates with the remaining water, geometrical forms all over the surface. This phenomenon goes on, until the whole surface dries. The water surfaces become smaller while the dry ones grow. We can observe this process acting very slowly and creating subtle perception differences in regard to the weather. This way our object doesn't move and subjects itself to the environment, generating beauty in rainy days." View jury comment The project works with beauty on a rainy day. Urban places and furniture are seldom designed to respond to weather conditions. The idea of this project is to have paving stone modules that retain water after a rain shower and create thin geometrical puddles that reflect the environment and the sky. When the rain stops, the water remains for a while in the puddles, but begins slowly to evaporate. The jury is intrigued by the simplicity of an idea that is so strong and exemplarily presented. Observations and explanation of the phenomenon; the subtle variations and differences between the water puddles, the wet material and the dry surfaces are presented as a very unique and poetic study.

Honourable mention
	Students: Martin Vandevoorde, Florent Schoennagel, Michael Lequeu Teacher: Jean-Luc Capron School: Université Catholique de Louvain U.C.L. Country: Belgium
View description ""Evolutive glazing – shining light" Opacity and materiality of a wall, here is the starting point of our research. Light can only exist if we leave it the opportunity to express its intrinsic quality. But what about sunscreens applied to a building and that simply respond to the problem for a very precise period of time and type of weather. Of course, the sun provides heat input, which is often superfluous, and sun-rays can dazzle the users. The solution is however not to have the windows blacked out or changing color perception from the outside. Following this issue, we have experienced the development of glazing designed as a filter. An element that acts in harmony with the light, instead of trying to be in opposition. 0. Technic / functionality The device is made of two glass sheets sandwiching a liquid composed of alcohol and water. In this liquid are inserted pieces of wax, whose color may vary. Alcohol mixed with water gives a liquid of lower density compared to the flakes of wax flowing in the form. When there s not sunshine, the wax chips remain at the bottom of the glazed panel, and do not affect the view through. When the sunshine begin to heat the panel, the density of the wax will fall as a result of this heat and the flakes will go up, one by one, to filter the superfluous sunshine, while contributing to diffuse the light. 1. Materiality of light From inside the sun get a materiality, not only inside the glass wall, but also on surfaces that receive all cast light. We are rediscovering the light under various aspects (sharpness, diffusion and opacity). The flakes of wax gives substance to light (in a similar way as the stained glass of the churches). Daylight is no longer immaterial that need to be revealed, but in turn reveal itself as a real material for space perception. And the panels become luminous slices against the light. The light no only reveals the wax, but becomes wax. From the outside, the motionless character of building components, such as this device in contrast with the movement of tiny solid elements that dance when touched by sunlight. 2. Randomness The highly technical dimension of the process is transcended by the freedom movement of wax chips. Therefore, the faÁade will never be looking identical, and establish a friendly relationship with pedestrians. Indeed, at some distance, faÁades become alive during the sunny days as a fresco in motion that evoke musical scores. Moreover, when one approaches the faÁade, the thickness of the panel is revealed by the topography of the flakes of wax in suspension. And the device bring the viewer into a world in relief. Thus, daylight act as a means of scenography for indoor and outdoor life, for the delight of young and old." View jury comment The project works with opacity and materiality of a panel made of two glass sheets sandwiching a liquid composed of alcohol and water. Pieces of flowing wax in the liquid will create a dynamic interaction with the sun; when there is no sunshine, the wax chips remain at the bottom of the panel and do not affect the view. When the sunshine begins to heat, the flakes will go up to filter the superfluous sunshine while contributing to diffuse the light. The project represents an interesting study of materiality and opacity in a search for harmony and interaction with the light. The jury appraises the approach – and the focus on a solution that is not based on sensors or automation.

Honourable mention
	Students: Bo Zeng, Yiming Cai, Jingyi Zhao Teacher: Yuhang Kong School: Tianjin University Country: China
View description Water lily, the symphony of architecture and sunshine Now a days in big cities, glass curtain wall is widely used for high-rise buildings. Behind their gorgeous appearance, the light pollution is produced at the sametime, affecting human life seriously. Light pollution of glass curtain wall is called white light pollution, mainly refers to the building's facade utilizes a large area heat reflecting coated glass curtain wall, when the sun is shining on the glass surface, because of the glass mirror reflection by the strong reflection light will interfere with people's normal life and work. Some glass curtain wall is semicircular, which is easy to cause the fire. Besides, we should also pay attention to the light pollution during the night. An excess of artificial light and reflected not only resulting in a waste of energy but also make people lose the beautiful night sky. For the plant, the sunlight is very important. Flowers' blooming and sunlight are inextricably linked. Water lily is generally open during the morning and closedat noon or night. The reaction to sunlight of water lily is particularly sensitive. Early in the morning, the rising sun arouses lily from sleep, closed water lily petals outside which are under the sunlight, slower growth, while the medial layer with the back to the sun, but has spread quickly, and the flowers bloom. At noon or night, the petals unfold, stretch like a big disk, and then the lotus medial layer exposed to sunlight, slower growth, outside layer on the contrary, it stretches gradually surpass the medial layer, then slowly closed automatically. So, we think, the buildings can also have the vitality. They have light sensitive skins which can open or close automatically with the light intensity changing. So both inside and outside of the buildings are comfortable for people. In this way the buildings keep in a harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment. A nice building should minimize the adverse effects on the around environment. View jury comment

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. EMAD HANI ISMAEEL

 

                 Ph.D. in Technologies for the Exploitation

                 of the Cultural Heritage .

                 Senior Lecturer in the Dept. of Architecture

                 College of Engineering , University of Mosul 

                 Mosul - Iraq .

 

E-mail:        emadhanee@yahoo.com

                   emadhanee@gmail.com

Web Site:  http://sites.google.com/site/emadhanee/

                   http://emadhani.blogspot.com/

Tel :           +964 (0)770 164 93 74