MAD Architects Look to the Honeycomb

MAD Architects have designed a tower and hotel to be built in Beijing inspired by the honeycomb nature of beehives. What seems like an undulating facade from far away is actually a regular grid of equally sized hexagons but with varying degrees of opening. Regulation of thermal gain and optimum degree of light dictated the pattern across the entire building. The facade also…acts as structural support freeing up the interiors and allowing for more open spaces.

below is an exploded diagram illustrating the components that go into what seems like a simple facade.

below is an illustration showing how the thermal analysis rendered the pattern on the facade as a direct response to heat gain.