Light-Seeking Brick: Kinetic Cladding With Variable Porosity

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Light-Seeking Brick
Kinetic Cladding with Variable Porosity
Maggie Nelson
Sentient Architectures: at Home
Rodolphe el-Khoury with Nashid Nabian
Documentation: Assignment I a+b
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Concept | Context | Initial Study | Product | Prototype | Further Exploration
+ =
Brick + Arduino = Light-Seeking Bricks

Concept:
Breaking Down the Barrier
Though bricks remain a fundamental building component

worldwide, in current practice, a brick wall is viewed as
http://soundbiteblog.com/category/consumer-credit/
a fundamentally static object. The notion of brickwork,
especially in the United States, often goes hand in hand
with historical or classically-style construction, but is
rarely seen as a progressive or modern materal. In fact,
the brick wall is more often associated with a barrier or
hurdle to be surpassed.
This prevailing point of view does not have to be the norm.

I propose that, with reference to a couple of important
architectural precents, and with the help of Arduino, the
perception of a brick wall can be radically changed. By
redesigning the brick unit and enabling it with technology,
Static, standard Brick Wall
the notion of the brick wall as a barrier can be disproved
and deconstructed.
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Breaking Down the Barrier
Precedent:
Office dA | Casa La Roca; Tongxian Art Center
In the context of expanding the potential of basic

architectural building blocks, there are several precedents
for the unusual implementation of brickwork. The firm
Office dA began to explore this field in their use of terra
cotta blocks, bricks, and tiles in their design for the Casa
la Roca. In this instance, the standard spacing between
bricks was modified to develop patterns and a techtonic
of folding within the structural wall; square terra cotta
blocks were implemented in varied degrees of rotation in
order to establish a gradient of transparency in a structural
block wall. While this project was never constructed, the
multiple different reinterpretations of standard building
blocks is a powerful reference. More recent work related
to inventive use of bricks is evidenced in their project for
the Tongxian Art Center in China (see oppposite page). Casa La Roca
All images: http://www.officeda.com
Casa La Roca: Brick Wall Casa la Roca: Block detail

Entrance, Tongxian Art Center Downspout detail, Tongxian Art Center
All images: http://www.officeda.com

Tongxian Art Center, Beijing
Precedent:
Gramazio + Kohler | Gantenbein Winery
More recently, the Swiss architects Gramazio and Kohler

have established themselves as leaders in the innovative
use of brickwork in structural walls and facade design.
Their work is facilitate by a robot which constructs
specifc brick patterns based on the codes produced by
the architects; this is a necessary part of the process
as their wall designs would be virtually impossible to
construct otherwise. Working in research at the ETH
Zurich as well as in an architectural practice, this pair has
notably constructed a winery in Switzerland where brick
spacing and rotations convey an image of grapevines
three-dimensionally. Gramazio and Kohler also explore
designs related to sliding/translating bricks, such as
for the Jahrhunderthalle Parking Garage in Bochum,
Germany (see opposite page). Gantenbein Winery
All images: http://www.gramaziokohler.com/
Gantenbein Winery: Interior Gantenbein Winery: Brick detail

Jahrhunderthalle Parking Garage, Bochum, Germany All images: http://www.gramaziokohler.com/

Precedent:
Anagram Architects | South Asian Human Rights
Documentation Center
For their design of the South Asian Human Rights

Documentation center, Anagram Architects chose to
work with a brick facade. A six brick module is laid in
staggered courses that create twirling vertical stacks and
All images: http://www.archdaily.com/58519/south-asian-human-rights-documentation-centre-anagram-architects/

an undulating surface. There were several objectives that
this brick screen wall was attempting to achieve, such as
a high level of porosity in the central portion of the wall,
reducing solar/thermal gain, and the use of a method of
construction that could to optimize the space available on
site and a modest budget. Through computer modeling,
the architects found a simple rotating module of bricks to
create the visual and textural complexity need to achieve
all of these design objectives.
South Asian Human Rights Documentation Center
SAHRDC Facade Exterior SAHRDC Interior light detail

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South Asian Human Rights Documentation Center, New Delhi, India

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All images: http://www.archdaily.com/58519/south-asian-human-rights-documentation-centre-anagram-architects/

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Precedent:
Jean Nouvel | L’institut du Monde Arab
L’Institut du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World)

was established in Paris in 1980 to disseminate
information about the Arab world as well as to promote
cooperation and cultural exchanges between France
and the Arab world. Jean Nouvel won the 1981 design
competition with his innovative yet risky solutions. In
particular, Nouvel uses a responsive facade to mediate
environmental conditions with a system of dilating
metallic irises that recall the geometric motifs often found
in Islamic architecture. These irises are actually 240
motor-controlled apertures, which open and close to act
as brise soleil to control the light entering the building.
The mechanism illuminates interior spaces with filtered
light — an effect often used in Islamic architecture with
its climate-oriented strategies. L’Institut du Monde Arab, Paris
Insitut du Monde Arab photographs by Maggie Nelson
Institut du monde Arab: Facade Exterior Institut du Monde Arab: Interior Aperture detail
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Insitut du Monde Arab images by Maggie Nelson

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Technical Research:
Rain Screens and Double-Skin Façades
http://www.buildbetterwalls.com/why_invelope/index.php
While historically, bricks have been used structurally
and for thermal mass, current practice has moved to
lighter, more efficient structural systems of steel or timber
framing. Thus the common brick used in residential
construction has taken the form of a rainscreen. These
are common facade systems that encompass a wide
number of applications and materials, proven to deter
rainwater intrusion into walls. Rain screens shed most of
the rain and manage the rest while providing the aesthetic
face of a building; they include the following elements:
- Vented or porous exterior cladding

- Air cavity (a few inches of depth is sufficient)
- Drainage layer on support wall
Brick Rain-screen Cladding System
- Rigid, water-resistant, airtight, support wall
Beyond the re-purposing of the brick, another interesting

development in contemporary construction is the rise
of the double-skin façade, resulting from the shift of
from: Facades: Principles of Construction, Knaack et al

various functions related to the interior functions of the
building immediately behind the façade. For example,
instead of installing ventilation systems in the building,
the ventilation can be provided by thermal insulation
between the two layers of the façade.
By combining these two concepts, this project seeks to

develop the brick acting as a rainscreen and exterior
layer of a double-skin facade, to mediate both light and
heat gain. In placing moving bricks in front of a glass
facade, the system responds to environmental factors to
create adaptive interior conditions.
Double-Skin Facade Diagram

Initial Study
2x
While precedents in research towards expanding the
implementation of the brick unit have a dynamic feel, they
are of course static systems. In this project, I propose to x
animate a standard brick wall to create a truly dynamic,
interactive system. By capturing video input from the 2x
space adjacent to the wall and2xmapping2x brightness
values to brick rotations, it is possible to create a three
x
dimensional interpretation
x x of the image. Furthermore,
as bricks rotate, they will allow for various levels of light
to penetrate the wall and into the space, adding another
dimension to the translation of video.2x
To further develop thisx concept of brick rotations in

three-dimensions and the corresponding transparency
they allow, two factors were altered from standard brick
dimensions. First, the brick was imagined as a hollow,
2x
tubular block, to allow more light to penetrate this building
element. Secondly, form of the brick unit was also
adjusted to allow for a close spacing without the risk of the x
60º
bricks hitting each other. This involved a parallelogram
shape rather than a typical rectangular one, thus giving 2x
2x2x
the ability to rotate freely up to 90º (see diagram at right).
x
The data flow to realize 60º
x x this idea involved first using
Processing to capture video 60º 60º then conditioning
input,
the data to average and divide the image relative to the
number of brick units. Then, this data was2xsent to Arduino,
where a brightness value for each portion of the image
is converted to integersx and mapped to brick rotations
(see following page for logic flow60ºchart). The following
pages contain logic diagrams, the codes, and images of
the completed and working initial system.
Initial Logic Flow Chart: Video input sent to Computer, interpreted by Processing, sent to Arduino where pixel brightness is
mapped to a rotation value; data is then sent to servo motors to rotate bricks
Initial Prototype: Arduino Circuit Diagram

Processing Code: void mousePressed(){

m.settings();
int number=4; }
int maxAngle=90; public void stop(){
import JMyron.*; m.stop();
JMyron m; super.stop();
import processing.serial.*; }
Serial myPort;
int n=int(640/number);
void setup(){
size(640,480);
frameRate(10);
m = new JMyron();
m.start(width,height);
m.findGlobs(0);
myPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[1], 9600);
rectMode(CORNER);
noStroke();
}
void draw(){
String st=””;
m.update();
int[] img = m.image();
for(int x=0;x<number;x+=1){
float grayness=brightness(img[240*width-x*n]);
int graymapped=int(map(grayness,0,255,0,maxAngle));
fill(grayness);
rect(x*n,0,n,480);
st=st+nf(graymapped,3)+”0”;
}
println(st);
st=”<”+st+”>”;
myPort.write(st);
}
Arduino Code: String getString(){

String inString;
#include <Servo.h> while(Serial.available() > 0)
Servo MyServo[4]; {
char temp[4]; char aChar = Serial.read();
String text; if(aChar == ‘<’)
int n=4; {
String inString; started = true;
char inData[17]; index = 0;
int index; inData[index] = ‘\0’;
boolean started = false; }
boolean ended = false; else if(aChar == ‘>’)
void setup(){ {
Serial.begin(9600); ended = true;
pinMode(2,OUTPUT); }
pinMode(3,OUTPUT); else if(started)
pinMode(4,OUTPUT); {
pinMode(5,OUTPUT); inData[index] = aChar;
MyServo[0].attach(2); inString.concat(aChar);
MyServo[1].attach(3); index++;
MyServo[2].attach(4); inData[index] = ‘\0’;
MyServo[3].attach(5); }
} }
void loop(){ if(started && ended)
inString=getString(); {
for(int i=0;i<4;i++){ started = false;
text=inString.substring(i*4,((i*4)+4)); ended = false;
text.toCharArray(temp,4); index = 0;
int x = atoi(temp); inData[index] = ‘\0’;
MyServo[i].write(x); }
delay(200); return inString;
} }
}
Initial Prototype Fabrication

Initial Prototype, with video input mapping to brick rotation

Product Development:
Environmental Conditions
Once the basic oncept of rotating bricks was confirmed

wit the initial prototype, the input conditions were
reexamined. While mapping video input to rotation is
an interesting experiment, its architectural implications
are limited. If this same idea could be applied to the
adjustment of a façade in response to environmental
conditions, however, the system has a much greater
potential to organize space and create a variety of
experiental conditions within the home.
In following the lead set by buildings such as the Institut

du Monde Arab, the next iteration of the product is light-
seeking bricks, whose degree of rotation is conditioned
based on temperature and exterior lighting conditions.
By following an environmental logic, the brick system Light Modulation Through Brick Facade
attempts to modulate heat and light gain through the
facade for control of the interior space. Thus the Light-
Seeking Bricks act as a kinetic cladding system, with
variable porosity to create variatbe aesthetic conditions
within the home based on environmental readings.
To create the prototype system and physically stack

moving bricks, the kinetic bricks occur in alternating
courses, sitting atop static bricks, within which are
embedded the light and temperature sensors to direct the
brick rotation. Each section of static bricks is supported
from the rear by a lightweight structure, which could be
suspended cables or another minimal system, though is
modeled in the prototype with plexiglass for maximum
transparency. The entire system acts as the rainscreen
portion of a double-skin façade, in front of a glass façade
that acts as an air and water barrier and drainage plane.
Rotating Bricks in alternate courses
Topic EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY PATENT [14]

LIGHT-SEEKING BRICKS (2010)
Patent Number: 1,234,567
Text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text textFig.
text1
text text text text text text text text (54) Patent for “Light
2x Seeking Brick Wall”
x ( 5 4 ) METHOD OF AVOIDING THE
text text text text text text text text text text text text text TYPICAL STATIC WALL CREATING
text text text text text text text text text text text text text ADAPTIVE LIGHT CONDITIONS BY
PROGRAMMING INTELLIGENT ROTATION IN
website or youtube sources

text text text text text text text 2x
text text text text text text ALTERNATING COURSES OF BRICKS
text text text text text text text text text text text text text ( 7 6 ) Inventors: Maggie Nelson,
x with Rodolphe el-Khoury and Nashid
60º
Nabian
text text text text text text text text text text text text text Correspondence Address:
MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave
text text text text text text text text text text text text text CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
TEL: + 1(360) 481 2682
text text text textFig.text
2 text text text text text text text text
( 2 1 ) Initial Application: STUDIO -
text text text text text text text text text text text text text SENTIENT ARCHITECTURES AT HOME
image caption
text text text text text text text text text text text text text ( 2 2 ) F i l e d ..............2010
[23] ABSTRACT
text text text text text text text text text text text text text By adjusting the standard brick shape to a
parallelogram form (fig. 1) the traditional
text text text text text text text text text text text text text brick wall configuration (fig. 2) can be
text text text text text text text text text text text text text freed of its static nature. By embedding
light and temperature sensors in each unit
text text text text text text text text text text text text text of bricks(fig. 3), and controlling each
brick with its own motor, the standard
text text text text text text text text text text text text text building block can become the basis for an
intelligent wall system. Reacting to two
text text text textFig.
text 3 Fig. 4
inputs to control light transmission and
heat gain, bricks can independently rotate
to various angles to close (fig. 3) or open
(fig. 4), as well as to animate, the wall.
The system creates adaptive interior
lighting conditions based on environmental
input.
website or youtube sources

image caption
Prototype Behavior:
Cellular Automata
http://nbickford.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/cellular-automata/
By embedding light and temperature sensors in each set
of bricks, as described in the patent on the previous page,
the individual brick can begin to function autonomously
from the wall. In addition to creating a dynamic pattern
on the building façade, the movement of each bricks
creates ever-changing spatial qualities within the home.
This type of independent behavior is commonly seen in
cellular automata, where cells on a grid act according to
certain rules based on the conditions of their neighboring
cells.
A cellular automaton is a collection of “colored” cells on a

grid of specified shape that evolves through a number of
discrete time steps according to a set of rules based on
Basic Cellular Automaton; the Sierpinski Triangle
the states of neighboring cells. The rules are then applied
iteratively for as many time steps as desired. One of the
simplest examples of these would be a 1-dimensional
http://object-e-research.blogspot.com/2007/10/cellular-automaton.html
cellular automaton in which each cell has two states, ON
and OFF, which are represented by black and white, and
where each cell turns on if at least one of its neighbors
are in the ON state. When started from 1 cell, this simply
creates a widening black line or a pyramidal shape.
More complicated figures can be generated from different

rules, such as a cellular automaton in which a cell
changes to ON if either the cell to it’s top left or top-right
is ON, but not if both are on. This creates a pattern known
as a Sierpinski Triangle when starting from a single cell,
a fractal geometry. Hundreds of commonly-agreed rules
exist to create variations on the initial pattern, including
the potential to create three-dimensional figures.
A Three-Dimensional Cellular Automaton system

Final Prototype Logic Flow Chart, first sensing temperature then light to determine rotation of bricks
image caption
Final Prototype: Arduino Circuit diagram

Arduino Code:
TempSensorRead=analogRead(5); // Read external temperature data
int CriticalLowTemperature=5; // hardcoded low temperature threshold OutsideTemp = map(TempSensorRead,0,1023,-20,40); // convert the tempera-
int CriticalHighTemperature=30; // hardcoded high temperature threshold ture data readings to ºCelsius ranging from -20C to 40C based on extreme tem-
int CriticalHighLight=850; // hardcoded maximum light threshold perature for Boston
int LightSensorRead[4]; // array to store light readings from 4 photocells
int TempSensorRead; // variable for the exterior temperature reading if(OutsideTemp>CriticalHighTemperature) {
int OutsideTemp; // converted actual temperature values in ºC Serial.println(“Temp Too High, Close All”);
int servoAngle; // rotation angle of servo CloseAllServos();
//float damper=.1; // setup to create slower, damped movement (not used) }
int average[4]; // array of average photocell data for calibration else if(OutsideTemp<CriticalLowTemperature) {
int maxAngle; // maximum angle bricks may rotate in given conditions Serial.println(“Temp Too LOW, Open All”);
OpenAllServos();
#include <Servo.h> // include Servo Library }
Servo myServo[8]; // create array of servos called myServo else if(OutsideTemp>CriticalLowTemperature && OutsideTemp<CriticalHighTem
perature){
void setup(){ for(int i=0; i<4; i++){
Serial.begin(9600); //Beginning Serial Connection if( LightSensorRead[i]>CriticalHighLight){
pinMode(2,OUTPUT); // setup pin output to control servo motors Serial.println(“Temp Normal but Too Much Light”);
pinMode(3,OUTPUT); servoAngle=0;
pinMode(4,OUTPUT); ControlServoAngle(i, servoAngle);
pinMode(5,OUTPUT); }
pinMode(6,OUTPUT); else if ( LightSensorRead[i]<=CriticalHighLight){
pinMode(7,OUTPUT); Serial.println(“Temp Normal Light Normal”);
pinMode(8,OUTPUT); maxAngle=map(OutsideTemp,CriticalLowTemperature,CriticalHighTemperatu
pinMode(9,OUTPUT); re,90,0);
myServo[0].attach(2); // attach each servo to corresponding pin servoAngle=map( LightSensorRead[i],average[i],CriticalHighLight,maxAngle,0);
myServo[1].attach(3); servoAngle=constrain(servoAngle,0,maxAngle);
myServo[2].attach(4); Serial.println(servoAngle);
myServo[3].attach(5); ControlServoAngle(i,servoAngle);
myServo[4].attach(6); }
myServo[7].attach(9); delay(100);
Serial.print(“tempSensorRead: “);
// calibrating the photocells Serial.println(TempSensorRead);
for (int i=0; i<20; i++){ average[0]=average[0]+analogRead(0); Serial.print(“maxAngle: “);
// photocell 0 is connected to analog pin 0 Serial.println(maxAngle);
} }
for (int i=0; i<20; i++){ average[1]=average[1]+analogRead(1); void CloseAllServos(){
// photocell 1 is connected to analog pin 1 for(int i=0; i<4; i++){
} myServo[i].write(0);
for (int i=0; i<20; i++){ average[2]=average[2]+analogRead(2); }
// photocell 2 is connected to analog pin 2 for(int i=4; i<8; i++){
} myServo[i].write(180-0);
for (int i=0; i<20; i++){ average[3]=average[3]+analogRead(3); }
// photocell 3 is connected to analog pin 3 }
} void OpenAllServos(){
// averaging each photocell’s readings for calibration for(int i=0; i<4; i++){
average[0]=average[0]/20; myServo[i].write(90);
average[1]=average[1]/20; }
average[2]=average[2]/20; for(int i=4; i<8; i++){
average[3]=average[3]/20; myServo[i].write(180-90);
} }
}
void loop(){ void ControlServoAngle(int i, int servoAngle){
for(int i=0; i<4; i++){ myServo[i].write(servoAngle);
LightSensorRead[i]=analogRead(i); // Read all Light Intensities from photocells myServo[i+4].write(180-servoAngle);
} }
Final Prototype, with mild temperature and indirect light

Final Prototype, with Light-sensing bricks working autonomously

Further Exploration:
Brick Translations
Beyond simple rotations, translating (sliding) bricks also positioning of the opening to follow the user as long as he
hvae the potential to create adaptive porosity in a building or she remains within a certain threshold distance from the
façade. This possibility was explored in 3d models with the façade.
help of Grasshopper, a parametric program used to control
Rhino models with scripts and sets of rules (see opposite Though there are some structural issues to be resolved
page for the Grasshopper parameters used in this case). with such a system, the underlying concept could be
acheived with keyed and slotted bricks, so that each brick
The scenario for the brick translations considers a mortarless creates a sort of track for the one above it. An example
brick wall with some amount of space between each brick rendering of this principle is shown on the following page.
in a given course. Once an occupant within the building One could then image that small sets of wheels and motors
approaches the façade, a window opening is created by are embedded in this track to guide each brick to its proper
adjusting the spacing between each brick, closing the gap position.
between some units to allow a large space to form between
others. The user’s movements could then be tracked as
they walk along the façade, with the system adjusting the
Initial Condition for further experimentation with brick translations

Grasshopper Parameters used to create brick translations model

Keyed Bricks provide track for each course Adjusted spacing forms window opening
Window Opening adjusting its position through Brick Translations

Brick TRanslations create Window Aperture as well as variable porosity in the façade

Light-Seeking Brick: Kinetic Cladding With Variable Porosity

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NV JS ON MN ZH FGD JD YB RA

Brick + Arduino = Light-Seeking Bricks

Though bricks remain a fundamental building component

This prevailing point of view does not have to be the norm.

In the context of expanding the potential of basic

All images: http://www.officeda.com

Casa La Roca: Brick Wall Casa la Roca: Block detail

Entrance, Tongxian Art Center Downspout detail, Tongxian Art Center

All images: http://www.officeda.com

More recently, the Swiss architects Gramazio and Kohler

All images: http://www.gramaziokohler.com/

Gantenbein Winery: Interior Gantenbein Winery: Brick detail

Jahrhunderthalle Parking Garage, Bochum, Germany All images: http://www.gramaziokohler.com/

For their design of the South Asian Human Rights

All images: http://www.archdaily.com/58519/south-asian-human-rights-documentation-centre-anagram-architects/

SAHRDC Facade Exterior SAHRDC Interior light detail

South Asian Human Rights Documentation Center, New Delhi, India

All images: http://www.archdaily.com/58519/south-asian-human-rights-documentation-centre-anagram-architects/

L’Institut du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World)

Insitut du Monde Arab photographs by Maggie Nelson

Insitut du Monde Arab images by Maggie Nelson

- Vented or porous exterior cladding

Beyond the re-purposing of the brick, another interesting

from: Facades: Principles of Construction, Knaack et al

By combining these two concepts, this project seeks to

Double-Skin Facade Diagram

To further develop thisx concept of brick rotations in

Initial Prototype: Arduino Circuit Diagram

Processing Code: void mousePressed(){

Arduino Code: String getString(){

Initial Prototype Fabrication

Initial Prototype, with video input mapping to brick rotation

Once the basic oncept of rotating bricks was confirmed

In following the lead set by buildings such as the Institut

To create the prototype system and physically stack

Topic EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY PATENT [14]

website or youtube sources

website or youtube sources

A cellular automaton is a collection of “colored” cells on a

More complicated figures can be generated from different

A Three-Dimensional Cellular Automaton system

Final Prototype: Arduino Circuit diagram

Final Prototype, with mild temperature and indirect light

Final Prototype, with Light-sensing bricks working autonomously

Initial Condition for further experimentation with brick translations

Grasshopper Parameters used to create brick translations model

Window Opening adjusting its position through Brick Translations

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