The HAM, a vertical factory, houses various light industry businesses in a building fabric that has become poorly suited to its use. The architecture, inspired by a mix of “high-tech” exoskeleton aesthetics and postmodern elements, offers a malleable open plan but lacks comfort-driven considerations. Our proposal explores the potential for the exoskeleton to hang a canopy structure of recycled extruded terracotta, which folds into the cladding and a planter box to create a new façade.
This reduces glazing and provides a fully insulated cladding facade within the exoskeleton’s virtual thickness, improving thermal performance and providing shade to the south and west-facing windows. The planter boxes help relieve heat and are at a manageable height for easy maintenance by tenants.
