Outside_In

This project contributes to research in addressing climate change through sustainable design, exploring new strategies for the design of interior climates, away from energy intensive HVAC systems towards dynamic, healthy and experientially rich environments. Interlacing the fields of Adaptive Thermal Comfort (de Dear, Brager), Architectural Atmospheres (Böhme, Pallasmaa, Zumthor), Ambiances (JP Thibaud) and Interior Climate Design (P Rahm, T Auer). Dual interacting microclimates were created on each side of a parabolic structure using high pressure water with specially fabricated micro-aperture jets to produce a ‘dry-mist’, infra-red heat and finely calibrated coloured LED light. A central investigation was how these microclimates interact and morph to create a spectrum of dynamic and transient perceptual encounters. As visitors moved through the space, they experienced subtle sensory shifts in atmospheric environments. An IR camera and digital instruments were used for further verify this. The project clearly demonstrated that a complex climatic perceptual interplay can be generated by manipulating a number of climatic phenomena. This project was a collaboration with Prof Thomas Auer (Germany), one of the leading international figures in climate responsive design. Sited at RMIT Gallery Melbourne, Outside_In was part of the highly successful curated exhibition ‘Dynamics of Air ‘which saw over 5300 visitations and received 45,000 € in funding from EUNIC with $10,000 AUD allocated for this work. The project was featured in the Goethe Institut publication ‘Culture’ and other media, Wagenfeld was invited to present the project at the MIT Leonardo LASER lecture in Auckland NZ (13/09 2019), ‘Bauhaus Masters’ Lecture Weimar ‘ (20.06.2019) and KISD Talk (Tu Cologne) Germany (20/04/2020). Scholarly discussions on the work have been accepted for ‘Unlikely Journal’ (2020), Ambiance Network UC Santa Barbara (USA 2020) and ACSF 12 (USA 2020).