Air Flow Field = Architecture

Nagaoka City Hall Design Proposal, Japan, 2007

F.A.D.S + Fujiki Studio, KOU::ARC

The proposal is based on the thought that architecture is a field where air flows; and the most important part of the project is its “Breathing Envelope”. The “Breathing Envelope” is made of ETFE film and can open or close according to the difference in atmospheric pressure between inside and outside. This way it becomes a smart technology for controlling the microclimate of the building. There are 108 different modes that shift according to the respective climate of the various seasons, with four elements including the breathing envelope being able to be set to open, half-open or closed.