Mimosa Kinetic Fa?ade Bio-Inspired Ventilation Leveraging the Mimosa Pudica Mechanism for Enhanced Indoor Air Quality

Abstract

In light of pressing global health concerns the significance of indoor air quality in densely populated structures has been emphasized. This research introduces the Mimosa kinetic fa?ade an innovative design inspired by the adaptive responsiveness of the Mimosa plant to environmental stimuli. Traditional static architectural fa?ades often hinder natural ventilation leading to diminished air quality with potential health and cognitive repercussions. The Mimosa kinetic fa?ade addresses these challenges by enhancing effective airflow and facilitating the removal of airborne contaminants. This study evaluates the fa?ade抯 impact on quality of life and its aesthetic contribution to architectural beauty utilizing the biomimicry design spiral for a nature-inspired approach. Computational simulations and physical tests were conducted to assess the ventilation capacities of various fa?ade systems with a particular focus on settings in Bangkok Thailand. The study revealed that kinetic fa?ades especially certain patterns provided superior ventilation compared to static ones. Some patterns prioritized ventilation while others optimized human comfort during extended stays. Notably the most effective patterns of the kinetic fa?ade inspired by the Mimosa demonstrated a high air velocity reaching up to 12 m/s in contrast to the peak of 2.50 m/s in single-sided fa?ades (traditional fa?ades). This highlights the kinetic fa?ade抯 potential to rapidly expel airborne particles from indoor spaces outperforming traditional fa?ades. The findings underscore the potential of specific kinetic fa?ade patterns in enhancing indoor air quality and human comfort indicating a promising future for kinetic fa?ades in architectural design. This study aims to achieve an optimal balance between indoor air quality and human comfort although challenges remain in perfecting this equilibrium. ? 2023 by the authors.