Thermal Spirals
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A climate-responsive facade system that translates environmental heat into visible spatial expression through biomimetic geometry and thermochromic material.
Concept
The design draws from the nautilus shell’s spiral growth logic and internal chamber system, translating biological resilience into an architectural language. Instead of treating the facade as a static barrier, the project reframes it as an atmospheric interface — one that reveals climate fluctuations in real time. The core hypothesis proposes that environmental performance can be both functional and expressive, making climate visible rather than invisible.
Material & Prototype Research
Thermochromic PLA filament
Inspired by the nautilus shell’s Fibonacci-based spiral, the project translates natural resilience and adaptation into an architectural framework. By decoding its geometry and chambered logics, a digital catalog of facade patterns was developed—testing how variations in depth, curvature, and rhythm generate distinct spatial effects. These explorations were further advanced through material research using thermochromic PLA filament, where full-scale prototypes visibly react to heat at ~88°F, transforming invisible climate data into expressive surface shifts.
Structural Optimization & Assembly
To enhance efficiency and minimize waste, the lamella structures were tapered toward the top, where structural demand is reduced. This gradient in thickness not only optimizes material use but also maintains overall stability. Iterative simulations refined the shell geometry to improve printability—angled profiles and calculated wall thicknesses eliminated the need for supports, reducing both filament consumption and fabrication waste. Together, these strategies establish a facade system that is both structurally resilient and materially efficient.
Outcome
The final prototypes demonstrated immediate visual response to heat, transforming solar gain into a chromatic field that animates the facade throughout the day. Rather than hiding climate control within mechanical systems, the design makes thermal data publicly legible. The project suggests a future where architectural skins behave more like organisms — reactive, expressive, and communicative — bridging environmental intelligence with urban aesthetics.
