Hor, Saba (2025) Wing Coupling Pantographs: a Deployable Shading System Inspired by Insect Wings. Masters thesis, Concordia University.
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Abstract
This research investigates the design of a bio-inspired deployable shading system that addresses diverse user needs, including visual privacy, light control, and adaptability. Drawing inspiration from the morphology and mechanics of insect wings, the study translates natural principles—such as wing-to-wing coupling mechanisms and venation patterns—into architectural solutions. The research employs an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates bio-inspired design approaches, parametric modeling, and iterative digital and physical prototyping. Through cycles of sketching, computational simulation, and prototype testing, the project examines how feedback between physical and digital models can enhance design outcomes, optimize tessellation configurations, and inform installation strategies. Two complementary bio-inspired design strategies—top-down technology-pull and bottom-up biology-push—were used to address both functional and aesthetic considerations, while parametric tools facilitated the translation of biological patterns into structural geometries. The final prototype demonstrates a scalable, transformable shading system that merges traditional concepts, such as Orosi windows, with contemporary bio-inspired design thinking. Methodologically, the study contributes a hybrid workflow combining computational and hands-on experimentation; conceptually, it bridges cultural and natural frameworks; practically, it produces a functional, human-scale prototype with potential applications as interior partitions or adaptive façades. Limitations in time, funding, and fabrication scope suggest opportunities for further exploration of material strategies, structural behavior, and diverse wing-inspired patterns. The findings highlight the potential of insect-inspired transformable systems to inform responsive architectural design and offer a flexible platform for future research and innovation.
| Divisions: | Concordia University > Faculty of Fine Arts > Design and Computation Arts |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
| Authors: | Hor, Saba |
| Institution: | Concordia University |
| Degree Name: | M.Des. |
| Program: | Design |
| Date: | 19 November 2025 |
| Thesis Supervisor(s): | Smitheram, Miranda |
| Keywords: | Bio-inspired design, Parametric design, Deployable shading systems, Insect wing biomimicry, Visual privacy, Kinematic modelling |
| ID Code: | 996761 |
| Deposited By: | Saba Hor |
| Deposited On: | 29 Jun 2026 15:01 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jun 2026 15:01 |
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