A-TIER design
Al Bahar Towers — sun-tracking origami façade that halves cooling load
100k ft — What is this?
Al Bahar Towers — sun-tracking origami façade that halves cooling load
50k ft — Why care?
Aedas Architects' 2008 Abu Dhabi towers wrap the glass in computer-controlled umbrella-like screens modeled on the mashrabiya lattice and on biomimicry (pupils, flowers). The panels unfold with the sun, cutting glare and glass heat and reportedly halving air-conditioning demand.
10k ft — Key takeaways
• Kinetic shading can be modeled on traditional passive devices like the mashrabiya.
• Reported result: ~50% less AC demand and less artificial lighting.
• Responsive façades target glass heat gain directly, the dominant load in hot climates.
5k ft — Tools & techniques
(no tools tagged)
biomimicry, kinetic façade, parametric shading
1k ft — Deep-dive / try it
🏢 This building moves depending on the position of the sun ☀️
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Transcript excerpt
Did you know that in the extreme climate of Abu Dhabi, there are two towers that can automatically adjust their façade based on the Sun's position? Designed by Aidas Architects in 2008, they responded to a significant challenge. How do you design a sustainable skyscraper in a country where temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius? Inspired by bio mimicry, the architects turned to nature, observing how pupils adjust to light and flowers respond to the Sun. They also turned to the past, studying the mashrabia, a lattice screen that has been used in Islamic architecture for centuries. This screen diffuses sunlight, keeping buildings cool without obstructing the view or natural light. But how do you design a façade that moves with the Sun? The answer? Or a gami? Using computer-controlled screens, the façade unfolds like an umbrella, directly responding to sunlight. Imagine this. Solar rays can heat window surfaces to nearly 90 degrees Celsius or 200 degrees Fahrenheit. But thanks to this design, the screens shield the glass, reducing glare and letting in diffused light. The result? A 50% reduction in air conditioning demands and less need for artificial lighting. A project where past meets the future, tradition intertwines with innovation and architecture comes alive.