Projects  // Profile // Process // Book // Us


︎   ︎     

MODU conducts design-led research to develop innovative strategies of climate adaptation for our cities and beyond.



Self-Cooling Walls

In Houston’s hot climate, self-cooling concrete walls are cast with corrugation patterns that help release solar heat more rapidly when passed over by wind. Research demonstrated varying cooling rates based on the patterning, with a significant difference compared to flat, non-corrugated panels.

More intricate patterns are used on walls exposed to direct sunlight to enhance self-cooling. The increased surface area of the corrugations, along with transpiration from abundant plants, helps create more comfortable microclimates. These passive design strategies improve human experience and environmental impact while contributing to a distinctive visual expression.

More information here







Indoor Terrace


New York City’s hot summers and cold winters make a multi-season room especially beneficial, open during temperate seasons and enclosed air-tight otherwise. An indoor terrace creates a unique  environment that evolves with the seasons. Shaded during warm weather and featuring large openings, the indoor terrace passively cools the air before it enters the building, lowering energy costs .

Radiant heating provides warmth in early winter, allowing for extended use. In the summer, plantings and natural breezes help lower temperatures, promoting healthy indoor-outdoor living.

More information here



Coral Footings


Public installations typically generate significant amounts of construction waste, which ends up in landfills. However, they can be designed for recycling or reuse from the outset. In Miami, a steel structure was left unpainted to facilitate recycling, while concrete footings were donated to an artificial reef program.

The footings were cast with a network of holes for future marine life and concrete textures specifically designed to promote coral growth. After de-installation, the footings were lowered to the seabed to form the artificial reef.

More information here