Thermoheliodome Design, Optimization and Fabrication

The Thermoheliodome, a digitally fabricated radiant cooling pavilion, addresses the energy challenge of buildings through a novel form and concept. We control the effective radiant temperature of a large area by expanding the surface area through reflection, which minimizes convective losses. Our novel geometric analysis for capture and concentration of diffuse heat emission from bodies resulted in a cone-shaped ‘lamp’ form. The optimization resulted in a hexagonal array of 55 cones across a 6 meter dome, which expands radiant emission surface area by a factor of 6, shifting outdoor comfort perception with minimal losses to the outside air.