OVERCAST

Shading over Legacy Park

Shading Device Over Legacy Park in Collaboration with Weston Urban

Weston Urban began in 2012 as an effort to attract and retain San Antonio’s new generation of talent by reviving the city’s centre. With the purpose of cultivating human connection through a vibrant urban core with pedestrian-friendly business, recreation, public spaces, art and culture. The project's goal was to create shadows on the lawn by only utilising existing infrastructure in the park. The structural integrity of the design proposal was assessed by Dunaway Constructiuons.

Climate Analysis

The UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index) is a measure of how comfortable the human body is in particular climatic conditions. Climate analysis software (Ladybug and Honeybee for Rhino - Grasshopper) can be used to analyze the UTCI of a park in a hot climate. By analyzing the temperature, humidity, and wind speed, the software can calculate the UTCI for the park and identify ways to improve thermal comfort. For example, it may suggest the addition of artificial shade, increased air movement, or other strategies to reduce the park's overall UTCI. A shading structure can be useful in reducing the impact of the sun on a space, as it helps regulate temperature by blocking and diffusing direct sunlight. This can help reduce the UTCI and make a space more comfortable for people.

Augmeneted Reality for Prototyping

  • Augmented Reality Fabrication

    Fabricating a polycarbonate film into a shading structure using an augmented reality headset involves a few steps. The first step is to create a 3D model of the desired structure. This can be done through the augmented reality headset, which allows the user to interact with their environment and manipulate their design in real time. Once the 3D model has been created, the headset can be used to guide the fabrication process, providing directions on how to cut, shape, and assemble the polycarbonate pieces.

  • Welding

    Welding polycarbonate film is a process by which two pieces of the material are joined together using heat and pressure. First, the pieces of polycarbonate film to be welded must be bent and prepped so that they fit together properly. Then, heat is applied along the joint line and pressure is added as the welding iron pushes the film together. Finally, the welded sections are cooled and any excess material can be trimmed off.

  • Build Prototype

    Building a prototype of a shading device and testing it on a windy site can be beneficial because it allows you to evaluate the device's performance in real-world conditions. Windy sites are ideal for testing the structural integrity, stability, and strength of a shading device. It also provides an opportunity to adjust the design or materials based on the results of the tests, ensuring that the final product performs as expected.

Students

The project was conducted during the spring and summer semester 2022 at the School of Architecture and Planning at UTSA with the following students.
Abdolkarim, Baraa; Casas, Sebastian S.; Casas, Alejandra; Cennamo, Christopher A.; Egure, Alondra A.; Esquibel, Ycela; Martinez, Giovanni A.; Pollet, Madeline R.; Putman, Loren E; Robledo, Sabrina; Salinas, Raul; Torres, Armando; Wulf, Olivia G.; Yang, Jeanette