Undergrads present at the 2024 ASCA International Conference in Mexico

Three teams of Waterloo Architecture undergraduate students presented papers at the 2024 conference held June 27 - 29 in  Querétaro, Mexico. 

The three papers look at nature as the source of biomimetic inspiration for the development of climate-adaptive facade systems for architectural applications. Inspired by the physiology and tissue structure of the Plantain lily leaves, the Swamp Milkweed fruit, and Button Mushroom gills, each project demonstrates how nature all around us has the unique potential to teach us a lot about climate adaptation and environmental resiliency. The research was developed during the Arch393 3B option studio - Biomimetic Design Lab under the supervision of David Correa.

Priscilla Subramaniam, Emilio Gonzales, Jarin Hoque
[ paper: Biomimicry in Architectural Design: Plantain Lily Physiology as a Biological Role Model to Create Hybrid 3D Printed Elastic Actuators in Passive Architectural Systems]

Audrey Chen, Simone Darveau, Kailing Mai
[ paper: Upscaling of Climate Responsive Hygroscopic Louvres Based on Bio-Inspired Principles of the Button Mushroom]

Laurie Zeng, Juan Juan Yin, Valarie Leung (not pictured)
[paper: Multifunctional Hygroscopic Climate Adaptive Facades]

The students were the only undergraduate students accepted to the conference and received recognition for their efforts to engage in research at this early stage of their academic journey.  This research could be used to develop smart building components that can move autonomously to provide optimal shading in response to changing sun angles or in response to rain. 

The conference was presented by The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the School of Architecture, Art and Design of Tecnológico de Monterrey, in partnership with Asociación de Instituciones de Enseñanza de la Arquitectura (ASINEA) was an international summit delving into the intersecting inflection points of environmental and social trends, innovative forms of practice, and artificial intelligence. On the threshold of what is yet to come, we convene to critically interrogate and reshape the future of architectural education, nurturing generations of paradigm shifters equipped to bend our destiny.