Articles

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  Superposition matrix for the assessment of performance-relevant adaptive façade functions

  The environmental boundary conditions and the demand for comfort change constantly during the use of a building. By dynamically balancing changing conditions and requirements, adaptive façades contribute to the energy efficiency of buildings. The façade fulfils a multitude of functions that are interdependent and relate to environmental conditions and requirements. By negotiating mutually supportive and competing adaptive functions, intelligent coordination offers the potential for better performance of façades in building operation. The strategy is already being applied in other application areas, such as the intelligently cooperating machines in industry 4.0. There, individual automated production plants are networked to form intelligent technical systems with regard to a common production goal. The research presented follows the assumption that this strategy can be applied to automated and adaptive functions of the façade to increase the building performance. The study identifies those functions which, due to possible automation and adaptivity, as well as effect on performance, can be considered as possible components of an intelligently cooperating system. In addition, characteristics are determined which can be used to evaluate the extent of automation and adaptivity of an individual façade function. The study shows that the detailed analysis of the automation and adaptivity within identified façade functions is possible. With a superimposition matrix, it also provides a tool that enables this assessment of the degree of automation and adaptability.

  The environmental boundary conditions and the demand for comfort change constantly during the use of a building. By dynamically balancing changing conditions and requirements, adaptive façades contribute to the energy efficiency of buildings. The façade fulfils a multitude of functions that are interdependent and relate to environmental conditions and requirements. By negotiating mutually supportive and competing adaptive functions, intelligent coordination offers the potential for better performance of façades in building operation. The strategy is already being applied in other application areas, such as the intelligently cooperating machines in industry 4.0. There, individual automated production plants are networked to form intelligent technical systems with regard to a common production goal. The research presented follows the assumption that this strategy can be applied to automated and adaptive functions of the façade to increase the building performance. The study...

  The environmental boundary conditions and the demand for comfort change constantly during the use of a building. By dynamically balancing changing conditions and requirements, adaptive façades contribute to the energy efficiency of buildings. The façade fulfils a multitude of functions that...

  Jens Boeke, Ulrich Knaack, Marco Hemmerling

  1-20

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  Rethinking Adaptive Building Skins from a Life Cycle Assessment perspective

  Adaptive building technologies have opened up a growing field of research aimed at ensuring indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption in buildings. By focusing on flexibility over short timeframes, these new technologies are, however, rarely designed for sustainability over their entire lifecycle. This paper aims to address an information gap between the research field of architectural Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the state of the art of adaptive façades, by presenting an analysis of the main aspects in traditional and adaptive façades that are relevant to understanding whether parallels can be drawn between available LCA databases.

  The literature is reviewed following an inductive method based on a qualitative data collection aimed at answering a list of research questions, and a deductive method starting from the descriptions of adaptive building envelopes. The findings highlight four main points: i) where and how adaptivity is integrated, ii) the design targets that are able to reduce the environmental impact, iii) the importance of a qualitative as well as a quantitative LCA of the technology, and iv) lists a number of knowledge gaps currently limiting the diffusion of LCA as a design and verification tool in Adaptive Building Skins.

  Adaptive building technologies have opened up a growing field of research aimed at ensuring indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption in buildings. By focusing on flexibility over short timeframes, these new technologies are, however, rarely designed for sustainability over their entire lifecycle. This paper aims to address an information gap between the research field of architectural Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the state of the art of adaptive façades, by presenting an analysis of the main aspects in traditional and adaptive façades that are relevant to understanding whether parallels can be drawn between available LCA databases.

  The literature is reviewed following an inductive method based on a qualitative data collection aimed at answering a list of research questions, and a deductive method starting from the descriptions of adaptive building envelopes. The findings highlight four main points: i) where and how adaptivity is integrated, ii) the design...

  Adaptive building technologies have opened up a growing field of research aimed at ensuring indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption in buildings. By focusing on flexibility over short timeframes, these new technologies are, however, rarely designed for sustainability over their entire...

  Manuela Crespi, Sandra Giulia Linnea Persiani

  21-43

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  Effects of a Vertical Green Façade on the Thermal Performance and Cooling Demand

  Traditional architecture has often applied greenery in the design to improve the thermal performance of indoor spaces. Such a bioclimatic approach is not often seen in the contemporary tube houses of Vietnam. Vietnamese architects recently started to focus more on greenery solutions for housing projects. However, the quantitative effects of plants on the building performance has not yet been investigated in Vietnam. This paper reports on an experiment to quantify the benefits of a vertical greening system for thermal performance and energy saving. A typical tube house in Hanoi was selected and two similar rooms were monitored during July and August, 2018. One of the rooms’ façades was covered by the climbing plant Bougainvillea. Outdoor and indoor temperature and energy for air-conditioning were measured for the two rooms to quantify the effect of the greenery on the existing aluminium shading device and a bare window. Results for the green façade showed that the difference between outdoor and indoor temperature can be as high as 8°C. In addition, the climbing plants helped to reduce the indoor temperature by around 1°C and thus cooling energy was saved by up to 35%.

  Traditional architecture has often applied greenery in the design to improve the thermal performance of indoor spaces. Such a bioclimatic approach is not often seen in the contemporary tube houses of Vietnam. Vietnamese architects recently started to focus more on greenery solutions for housing projects. However, the quantitative effects of plants on the building performance has not yet been investigated in Vietnam. This paper reports on an experiment to quantify the benefits of a vertical greening system for thermal performance and energy saving. A typical tube house in Hanoi was selected and two similar rooms were monitored during July and August, 2018. One of the rooms’ façades was covered by the climbing plant Bougainvillea. Outdoor and indoor temperature and energy for air-conditioning were measured for the two rooms to quantify the effect of the greenery on the existing aluminium shading device and a bare window. Results for the green façade showed that the difference...

  Traditional architecture has often applied greenery in the design to improve the thermal performance of indoor spaces. Such a bioclimatic approach is not often seen in the contemporary tube houses of Vietnam. Vietnamese architects recently started to focus more on greenery solutions for...

  Phan Anh Nguyen, Regina Bokel, Andy van den Dobbelsteen

  44-63

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  A Methodological Approach to Assess the Climatic Potential of Natural Ventilation Through Façades

  Due to the rapid development of super insulated and airtight buildings, the energy requirement for mechanical ventilation is becoming more and more dominant in today’s highly efficient buildings. In this scenario, natural ventilation has the potential to reduce energy use for buildings while maintaining ventilation rates that are consistent with acceptable indoor air quality. The increase in air temperature and frequency of extreme weather events (e.g. heavy rains, heat and cold waves) due to climate change will alter future outdoor boundary conditions and consequently the potential for natural ventilation in buildings. Therefore, to respond to the fluctuations in outdoor boundary conditions, the building envelope should become more and more dynamically responsive. In that sense, the façade plays an important role by regulating indoor comfort based on outdoor environmental conditions. This paper presents a methodological approach to investigate the potential of natural ventilation through the façade in office buildings in present and future climate conditions. It reviews technologies and strategies that maximise the use of natural ventilation in office buildings located in six selected different European climates. Numerical analyses were conducted, considering outdoor air temperature and humidity. Integrated façades with hybrid systems and strategies is one of the key solutions for increasing the potential of natural ventilation. The results showed that a hybrid solution with low-pressure drop heat recovery had the greatest potential to maximise the possibilities of low energy façade integrated ventilation.

  Due to the rapid development of super insulated and airtight buildings, the energy requirement for mechanical ventilation is becoming more and more dominant in today’s highly efficient buildings. In this scenario, natural ventilation has the potential to reduce energy use for buildings while maintaining ventilation rates that are consistent with acceptable indoor air quality. The increase in air temperature and frequency of extreme weather events (e.g. heavy rains, heat and cold waves) due to climate change will alter future outdoor boundary conditions and consequently the potential for natural ventilation in buildings. Therefore, to respond to the fluctuations in outdoor boundary conditions, the building envelope should become more and more dynamically responsive. In that sense, the façade plays an important role by regulating indoor comfort based on outdoor environmental conditions. This paper presents a methodological approach to investigate the potential of natural...

  Due to the rapid development of super insulated and airtight buildings, the energy requirement for mechanical ventilation is becoming more and more dominant in today’s highly efficient buildings. In this scenario, natural ventilation has the potential to reduce energy use for buildings while...

  Nejmia Ali Mohammed, Gabriele Lobaccaro, Francesco Goia, Gaurav Chaudhary, Francesco Causone

  64- 90

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  Shape-changing architectural skins: a review on materials, design and fabrication strategies and performance analysis

  In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in shape-changing smart materials in design fields. The ability to design responsive architectures that adapt to different climatic conditions is, without doubt, an appealing idea. One area in which shape-changing materials are applied is in the design of building skins or envelopes. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature on the use of shape-changing materials in the development of active skin systems, identifying patterns in design and manufacturing strategies. We also note the stage of development of the proposed designs and whether performance analysis was conducted to predict their behaviour. The results show that the most commonly used materials are SMA (Shape Memory Alloys) and wood-based bio-composites. Other shape-changing materials used for developing skin systems are, in order of popularity, thermo bimetals, electroactive polymers, composite bimetals, shape memory polymers, and hydrogels. The patterns identified among the studies are (1) design strategies: smart material as the skin, smart material as the actuator, combination with other non-responsive materials, responsive structures, geometric amplification; and (2) manufacturing strategies: bilayer systems and additive manufacturing.   Finally, while the argument for the development of responsive skin systems is often based on the idea of efficiency and improved performance, we found that few studies can predict the performance of such skin systems.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in shape-changing smart materials in design fields. The ability to design responsive architectures that adapt to different climatic conditions is, without doubt, an appealing idea. One area in which shape-changing materials are applied is in the design of building skins or envelopes. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature on the use of shape-changing materials in the development of active skin systems, identifying patterns in design and manufacturing strategies. We also note the stage of development of the proposed designs and whether performance analysis was conducted to predict their behaviour. The results show that the most commonly used materials are SMA (Shape Memory Alloys) and wood-based bio-composites. Other shape-changing materials used for developing skin systems are, in order of popularity, thermo bimetals, electroactive polymers, composite bimetals, shape memory polymers, and hydrogels. The...

  In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in shape-changing smart materials in design fields. The ability to design responsive architectures that adapt to different climatic conditions is, without doubt, an appealing idea. One area in which shape-changing materials are applied is...

  Elena Vazquez, Clive Randall, Jose Pinto Duarte

  91-102

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