Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Inhabitable Skin
Inhabitable Skin
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Inhabitable Skin
Type
The Inhabitable Skin is an innovative exploration of materials and
manufacturing processes that results in a three dimensional form that
exists as an independent monocoque structural assembly. The formal
expression of the skin is driven by the necessity of structure,
environment and context, but ultimately it bends to the will of the
designer who is capable of controlling it. The exciting prospect for a
designer is the ability to explore form, but within a framework of
definitive influences towards an architectural end. For the engineer,
the Inhabitable Skin represents a revolution in structural morphology,
an exploration of structural form not constrained by linear and planar
elements but a combination of complex surfaces.
The concept of the Inhabitable Skin offers the potential to
revitalize and re-energize densely populated urban centers. It focuses
on existing masonry clad highrise buildings and takes advantage of the
inherent strength of their structural systems. The Inhabitable Skin is a
three dimensional lightweight composite cladding system that directly
replaces the existing masonry veneer. The difference in self weight
between the two systems represents the opportunity for inhabitation. In
essence, the lightness of the composite skin allows for an extension of
the floor plate to support additional live loading. The skin and floor
extensions are fabricated with Polymer Matrix Composites and act
together as an ultra efficient singular monocoque structure. The
structural premise of the Inhabitable Skin relies on the reloading of
the edges of the existing structural slabs in exactly the same manner as
the masonry veneer that was removed. This allows the skin to act as a
kind of cocoon that can be attached to the existing building’s exterior
without relying on a separate supporting structure or adversely
impacting the building’s existing gravity or lateral load resisting
systems.
The opportunity for such an application in urban communities is
surprisingly abundant. Each opportunity offers its unique set of
influences to the visual character or language of the skin based on
context, building orientation, materials, massing, etc. Some of the
most evident opportunities exist on the facades of highrise buildings
adjacent to much shorter buildings. In these cases, the existing
building façade is limited by the potential of the shorter building to
be replaced by much taller building. The façade is therefore unable to
respond directly to its context but rather to its potential context.
The Inhabitable Skin concept allows the building’s skin to operate on a
shorter life cycle than the core of the building and therefore the
building’s exterior can more dynamically react to its local conditions.
This current evolution of the concept focuses on masonry clad
highrise buildings in Manhattan and suggests a formal response through a
case study of an existing building located in midtown. This specific
building was chosen because of its prominence in the midtown Manhattan
skyline as well as the amount of masonry on its façade with a clear
southern exposure. This coupled with the fact that it is a residential
highrise building, offered a compelling scenario for intervention with
some clear design influences and constraints. Below is a set of before
and after images of the conceptual design for an Inhabitable Skin.
The form of the Inhabitable Skin in this case study is driven by the
necessity to create a structurally cohesive form influenced by its
environment. The direct southern exposure of the façade challenges the
skin to respond as a passive solar shading device to reduce the thermal
heat gain potential of direct sunlight into the interior spaces.
Therefore, the symmetric forms of the skin on either side of the
existing windows blocks early and late day sun and the rippling in the
surface creates passive shading at each floor level for direct midday
summer sun. The form of the Inhabitable Skin is constrained by the
extents of brick masonry on the façade as well as the location of
program on the interior of the building. The effectiveness of the solar
shading as well as the creative freedom enabled by composite materials
is evident in the rendering below. This specific skin design solution
extends the floor plates up to 10 feet from the existing face of the
building and adds more than 11,600 square feet of rentable floor area to
36 stories of an apartment building.
Polymer Matrix Composite materials have been around for many decades
but concerns regarding their UV stability, fire resistance and
sustainability have limited their impact on the building industry. This
case study specifically addresses these issues through an innovative
layering of materials. The composite structure of the panel is
fabricated with a protective exterior coating of high density ceramic
concrete as well as a lightweight fire resistant ceramic concrete
interior coating. The layering of these materials to perform their
individual but complementary tasks creates a highly efficient and
lightweight system which reduces the overall energy footprint in
fabrication, delivery and on site construction when compared to
traditional methods of façade replacement.
manufacturing processes that results in a three dimensional form that
exists as an independent monocoque structural assembly. The formal
expression of the skin is driven by the necessity of structure,
environment and context, but ultimately it bends to the will of the
designer who is capable of controlling it. The exciting prospect for a
designer is the ability to explore form, but within a framework of
definitive influences towards an architectural end. For the engineer,
the Inhabitable Skin represents a revolution in structural morphology,
an exploration of structural form not constrained by linear and planar
elements but a combination of complex surfaces.
The concept of the Inhabitable Skin offers the potential to
revitalize and re-energize densely populated urban centers. It focuses
on existing masonry clad highrise buildings and takes advantage of the
inherent strength of their structural systems. The Inhabitable Skin is a
three dimensional lightweight composite cladding system that directly
replaces the existing masonry veneer. The difference in self weight
between the two systems represents the opportunity for inhabitation. In
essence, the lightness of the composite skin allows for an extension of
the floor plate to support additional live loading. The skin and floor
extensions are fabricated with Polymer Matrix Composites and act
together as an ultra efficient singular monocoque structure. The
structural premise of the Inhabitable Skin relies on the reloading of
the edges of the existing structural slabs in exactly the same manner as
the masonry veneer that was removed. This allows the skin to act as a
kind of cocoon that can be attached to the existing building’s exterior
without relying on a separate supporting structure or adversely
impacting the building’s existing gravity or lateral load resisting
systems.
The opportunity for such an application in urban communities is
surprisingly abundant. Each opportunity offers its unique set of
influences to the visual character or language of the skin based on
context, building orientation, materials, massing, etc. Some of the
most evident opportunities exist on the facades of highrise buildings
adjacent to much shorter buildings. In these cases, the existing
building façade is limited by the potential of the shorter building to
be replaced by much taller building. The façade is therefore unable to
respond directly to its context but rather to its potential context.
The Inhabitable Skin concept allows the building’s skin to operate on a
shorter life cycle than the core of the building and therefore the
building’s exterior can more dynamically react to its local conditions.
This current evolution of the concept focuses on masonry clad
highrise buildings in Manhattan and suggests a formal response through a
case study of an existing building located in midtown. This specific
building was chosen because of its prominence in the midtown Manhattan
skyline as well as the amount of masonry on its façade with a clear
southern exposure. This coupled with the fact that it is a residential
highrise building, offered a compelling scenario for intervention with
some clear design influences and constraints. Below is a set of before
and after images of the conceptual design for an Inhabitable Skin.
The form of the Inhabitable Skin in this case study is driven by the
necessity to create a structurally cohesive form influenced by its
environment. The direct southern exposure of the façade challenges the
skin to respond as a passive solar shading device to reduce the thermal
heat gain potential of direct sunlight into the interior spaces.
Therefore, the symmetric forms of the skin on either side of the
existing windows blocks early and late day sun and the rippling in the
surface creates passive shading at each floor level for direct midday
summer sun. The form of the Inhabitable Skin is constrained by the
extents of brick masonry on the façade as well as the location of
program on the interior of the building. The effectiveness of the solar
shading as well as the creative freedom enabled by composite materials
is evident in the rendering below. This specific skin design solution
extends the floor plates up to 10 feet from the existing face of the
building and adds more than 11,600 square feet of rentable floor area to
36 stories of an apartment building.
Polymer Matrix Composite materials have been around for many decades
but concerns regarding their UV stability, fire resistance and
sustainability have limited their impact on the building industry. This
case study specifically addresses these issues through an innovative
layering of materials. The composite structure of the panel is
fabricated with a protective exterior coating of high density ceramic
concrete as well as a lightweight fire resistant ceramic concrete
interior coating. The layering of these materials to perform their
individual but complementary tasks creates a highly efficient and
lightweight system which reduces the overall energy footprint in
fabrication, delivery and on site construction when compared to
traditional methods of façade replacement.
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.