Design Development of an Origami-Inspired Parametric Façade Based on Hijazi Architectural Patterns

Parametric design provides an effective computational approach for developing adaptable architectural forms that respond to environmental conditions in hot-arid climates, particularly in cities with high levels of solar exposure, such as Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Traditional Hijazi architectural patterns and Islamic ornamental systems in Al-Balad, Jeddah, can provide a culturally grounded source of inspiration for responsive façade design. The architectural elements and ornamentation of historic Jeddah can be digitally reinterpreted through computational and parametric design as a potential façade screening concept. This study employed a computational design development framework combining cultural pattern analysis, physical origami exploration, and parametric generative modeling. The findings demonstrate that selected Hijazi patterns and origami principles can be translated into a reconfigurable parametric façade module. The developed module generated multiple geometric configurations through folding, repetition, and attractor-based control, illustrating variations in geometric openness and surface articulation. Future use of appropriate materials, sensors, and control systems could allow for automatic responses to the environment. The resulting framework links cultural pattern abstraction with physical folding, computational design, and parametric geometric control.