The paper presents a digital design strategy for developing an Adaptive shading system responsive to Solar radiation in Piazza San Matteo Genova.

The strategy was first modelled with an Arduino-based physical prototype identifying the relationship model between Solar radiation and movement (angle) of the shading system.

The objective is to propose a better mathematical correspondence between the angle of the shading system and the Solar radiation in order to obtain more comfort radiation total hours in summer. We extend this approach to define an intelligent system that adjusts the angle of the shading system according to environmental factors such as humidity, pedestrian flow and sun radiation to meet different comfort requirements for sun radiation and rain shading.

A typical Piazza San Matteo Genova was chosen for the parametric modelling (Rhino-Grasshopper) and environmental simulation by Diva. The aim of the simulation was to find better parameter definition, higher total comfort hours and lower cooling energy demand in the case.