The SmartWrap exhibit pavilion, constructed in the garden of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in Washington, D.C., showcases an experimental curtain wall material which incorporates climate control functions with lighting, information display functions, and power within a mass customizable print facade.
SmartWrap represents a significant development in the design of integrated building envelopes and lighting design.
The membrane consists of a printable polyethyleneapthalate (PET) which acts as a substrate for other layers including climate control phase change materials, organic light emitting diodes (OLED’s), organic photo-voltaics (OPV’s) and organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) which provides circuitry between these components.
The variety of transparent and translucent printed surfaces which the material is comprised of pose a significant challenge in creating high levels of even, glare-free illumination. This was compounded as they museum was only able to provide one 20 amp (1920w) circuit to power the exhibit as a whole, which also included a computer kiosk in the Cooper Hewitt’s outdoor garden.
To emphasize the unique nature of the membrane material, the pavilion was illuminated from within. A translucent polypropylene sheet material was selected by the lighting design team to be used both as a luminous floor surface and as exhibit paneling.
Both surfaces were then illuminated by a series of energy efficient dimmable fixtures located in a cavity below, creating a dynamic experience for visitors as they walk around and through the pavilion, as well as ensuring the legibility of display panel text and illustrations within the exhibit.
A carefully selected mix of PAR lamps were chosen based on their wattage, beam pattern and output to achieve consistent illuminance on the spiraling exterior surface within the fixed energy consumption maximum. A series of lens combinations were also tested and selected to further define light distribution.
Ten zones of dimming provided precise control of intensity and additional wattage reductions, as energy consumption relative to load restrictions was critical to the success of the design as a whole.
Finally, 18 in-ground custom uplight fixtures were arrayed in a logarithmic spiral, or shape of a nautilus, calculated to maintain precise aiming geometry as the pavillion’s double helix rises in elevation above the garden below.
Despite the pavillion’s vertical form, this overall lighting strategy enabled all lighting equipment to be deployed solely in the ground, allowing for no visible wire runs, no bulky hardware, and most importantly, less coordination of building trades for the project, which had to be constructed in the short span of less than ten days.
The integration of light and form in the SmartWrap pavilion creates a singularly contemporary expression of materiality, encouraging museumgoers to explore and interact with the pavilion and its state of the art building envelope.
