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Material Circularity: Studies of Dune Sand Panels and Optimization

This research and corresponding paper introduce a novel approach to sustainable architectural design in arid desert environments, deeply rooted in the principles of material circularity. The study explores the utilization of dune sand, an abundant yet underutilized local resource, as a central element in crafting sand-based panels to meet the demands of desert climates.


The research outlines digital and analog methodologies, merging self-organization principles with bio-material sourced from desert dune sand. Through climate-centric computational optimization, these concepts manifest to create a weather-responsive architectural system engineered for use in the extreme desert milieu of the Global South.


The paper documents the potential role of dune sand, a material not traditionally used in construction, and reveals inherent self-organizing traits beneficial for architecture. Partnering with optimized digital fabrication, this enables the controlled pouring of dune sand to achieve extremely precise material configurations. The study explores variations in opening size and quantity, yielding a versatile array of physical surface sequences. Computational optimization meticulously aligns these configurations with the unique requirements of the designated desert location using the plugins Ladybug and Wallacei.


The research contributes to the ongoing discourse on architectural design for extreme environments and aligns seamlessly with the United Nations' sustainability objectives, with a specific focus on sustainable communities, climate action, and responsible consumption and production.




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