Adaptive Toldo systems T̳M̳

This thesis investigates the structural, spatial, and climatic performance of the Toldo - a traditional lightweight street shading device, which is emblematic of Islamic cityscapes. Re-examining its historical roots along with its contextual, cultural and functional traits, the thesis aims at setting a framework on the basis of which to speculate its reincarnation within contemporary practice. Such framework provides the theoretical foundations and technological opportunities to reinvent the primitive Toldo as a commercial spin-off, which envisions its modernization in three steps. Firstly, a digital customization tool allows for intuitive, end-user generated designs; Secondly, energy-harvesting materials and microelectronics enhance the product's application range and enrich it with a functional flexibility such that it can be used as an architectural skin beyond street level; Thirdly, an online marketing platform coordinates worldwide communication of interdisciplinary subcontractors, while integrating the product's traditional economy and craftsmanship. Finally, different case studies in Cairo will demonstrate the widened scope of such architectural product and prove the system's reliability, as it confronts real life demands and various propensities for investment.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Schleicher, Simon (Simon R.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sheila Kennedy.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46802

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/46802