Rethinking Building Skins

Transformative Technologies and Research Trajectories

1st Edition - December 5, 2021

Editors: Eugenia Gasparri, Arianna Brambilla, Gabriele Lobaccaro, Francesco Goia, Annalisa Andaloro, Alberto Sangiorgio

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 2 4 7 7 - 9

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 2 4 9 1 - 5

Rethinking Building Skins: Transformative Technologies and Research Trajectories provides a comprehensive collection of the most relevant and forward-looking research in the field… Read more

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Rethinking Building Skins: Transformative Technologies and Research Trajectories provides a comprehensive collection of the most relevant and forward-looking research in the field of façade design and construction today, with a focus on both product and process innovation. The book brings together the expertise, creativity, and critical thinking of more than fifty global innovators from both academia and industry, to guide the reader in translating research into practice. It identifies new opportunities for the construction sector to respond to present challenges, towards a more sustainable, efficient, connected, and safe future.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Façade innovation: between ‘product’ and ‘process’
Abstract
Abbreviations
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Facades today
1.3 Facades tomorrow
1.4 Conclusion
References
2. Façade innovation: an industry perspective
Abstract
Abbreviations
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Method
2.3 Façade innovation: drivers, challenges and opportunities
2.4 Industry insights
2.5 Conclusion
References
Part A: Product Innovation
3. Urban overheating mitigation through facades: the role of new and innovative cool coatings
Abstract
Abbreviations
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Background
3.3 Highly reflective materials
3.4 Thermochromics
3.5 Radiative coatings
3.6 Conclusion
References
4. The pursuit of transparency
Abstract
Abbreviations
4.1 Introduction
4.2 State of the art in glass connections
4.3 Glass connections
4.4 Approach to transparent connections
4.5 Alternative transparency concepts with glass
4.6 Casa de Musica, Porto, OMA/ABT
4.7 K11 Musea, Hong Kong, SO-IL/EOC
4.8 Vidre slide, Duesselorf
4.9 Glass as a solid material
4.10 Atocha Station Memorial Madrid
4.11 Crystal Houses, Amsterdam
4.12 Further development of brick approach at TU Delft
4.13 Thin glass
4.14 Conclusion
References
5. Advanced fenestration—technologies, performance and building integration
Abstract
Abbreviations
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Advanced fenestration components
5.3 Advanced integrated fenestration systems
5.4 Advanced fenestrations performance evaluation to support design and operation decision-making
5.5 Conclusion
References
6. Embedding intelligence to control adaptive building envelopes
Abstract
Abbreviations
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The purpose of automation in adaptive building envelopes
6.3 Challenges and requirements for the automation of adaptive building envelopes
6.4 Elements, characteristics and logics for embedding intelligence in adaptive facades
6.5 Current examples from real-life implementation and research activities on controls for adaptive envelopes
6.6 Conclusion
References
7. Biomimetic adaptive building skins: design and performance
Abstract
Abbreviations
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Biomimetic adaptive building skins
7.3 Designing biomimetic adaptive building skins
7.4 Application of biomimetic adaptive building skins
7.5 Performance benefits of biomimetic adaptive building skins
7.6 Conclusion
References
8. Building integrated photovoltaic facades: challenges, opportunities and innovations
Abstract
Abbreviations
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Challenges and needs in rethinking solar photovoltaic facades
8.3 Innovation in solar facades—archetypes of innovation
8.4 Integrating the solar façade in the building energy system
8.5 Further opportunity: digitalization of solar facades as a driver for innovation
8.6 Conclusion
References
9. Unitized Timber Envelopes: the future generation of sustainable, high-performance, industrialized facades for construction decarbonization
Abstract
Abbreviations
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Tall buildings and facades
9.3 The ‘Rise’ of mass timber
9.4 The case for unitized timber envelopes
9.5 Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
10. Industrialized renovation of the building envelope: realizing the potential to decarbonize the European building stock
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 The importance of the building envelope for deep renovation
10.3 Degrees of industrialized renovation
10.4 Industrialized renovation process and state of the art
10.5 Outlook for the future
10.6 Conclusion
References
11. Vertical farming on facades: transforming building skins for urban food security
Abstract
Abbreviations
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Urban agriculture: from vacant plots to building-integrated agriculture
11.3 Vertical greenery systems
11.4 Farming on facades
11.5 Productive facades: a case study
11.6 Limitations and future directions of farming facades
11.7 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
12. Interactive media facades—research prototypes, application areas and future directions
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Interactive architecture, urban screens and media facades
12.3 Innovations in interactive media facades in practice and research
12.4 Interaction concepts, technologies and applications
12.5 Approaches for designing and evaluating interactive media facades
12.6 A framework for interactive media façade design
12.7 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Part B: Process Innovation
13. The building envelope: failing to understand complexity in tall building design
Abstract
13.1 Introduction
13.2 The building envelope and the fire safety strategy for high-rise buildings
13.3 Assumptions embedded in the fire safety strategy
13.4 Fundamental performance principles for the building envelope
13.5 Major misconceptions
13.6 Incompatibilities
13.7 Conclusion
References
14. Resilience by design: building facades for tomorrow
Abstract
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Bending strength
14.3 Embodied resilience: durability and adaptability
14.4 Resilience by design: designing for the ages and a resilient future
14.5 Strategies to enhance resilience
14.6 Conclusion
References
15. Inverse design for advanced building envelope materials, systems and operation
Abstract
Abbreviations
15.1 Introduction
15.2 What is inverse design?
15.3 A flavour of applications of inverse design for building envelope research
15.4 Methods and digital tools for inverse design
15.5 A demonstration of inverse design: combining static and dynamic solar shading
15.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
16. Towards automated design: knowledge-based engineering in facades
Abstract
Abbreviations
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Constructing a KBE application
16.3 An example of KBE in facades
16.4 Results
16.5 Conclusion
References
17. Additive manufacturing in skin systems: trends and future perspectives
Abstract
Abbreviations
17.1 Introduction
17.2 AM techniques for construction 3D printing
17.3 Review of AM projects for skin systems
17.4 Conclusion
References
18. Mass customization as the convergent vision for the digital transformation of the manufacturing and the building industry
Abstract
Abbreviations
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Digital transformation of manufacturing industry
18.3 Digital transformation of building industry
18.4 Mass customization as a convergence vision
18.5 Best practices’ and author’s proofs of concept
18.6 Conclusion
References
19. Automation and robotic technologies in the construction context: research experiences in prefabricated façade modules
Abstract
Abbreviations
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Context and background of construction robotics technology
19.3 BERTIM project: optimizing façade retrofit through automation
19.4 HEPHAESTUS project: robotic installation of unitized façade systems in tall buildings
19.5 Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
20. Life cycle assessment in façade design
Abstract
Abbreviations
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Assessing environmental impact of facades in the design phase
20.3 Integrating life cycle assessment in the design process of facades
20.4 Conclusion
References
21. Circular economy in facades
Abstract
Abbreviations
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Reduce, reuse, recycle
21.3 Design for disassembly and maintenance
21.4 Material passports, material banks
21.5 Circular business models
21.6 Circular design processes
21.7 Circular Construction 4.0
21.8 Conclusion
References
22. Facades-as-a-Service: a business and supply-chain model for the implementation of a circular façade economy
Abstract
Abbreviations
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Circular business models and product-service systems
22.3 A cross-value chain perspective: life cycle engineering for facades and façade performance contracting
22.4 Propositions
22.5 Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Afterword
Index

Eugenia Gasparri

Eugenia Gasparri is a Lecturer in Architectural Technologies at the University of Sydney. Her research experience is in the field of sustainable construction with a focus on envelope design, building prefabrication, and mass-timber technologies.

Affiliations and expertise

Lecturer in Architectural Technologies, School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia

Arianna Brambilla

Arianna Brambilla is a Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Sydney. Her research draws upon architecture, building physics, and engineering to assess and interpret construction as a holistic concept, with a strong focus on sustainability.

Affiliations and expertise

Lecturer in Architecture, School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Gabriele Lobaccaro

Gabriele Lobaccaro is an Associate Professor in Solar Design and Building Performance Simulation at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on solar design and environmental analysis, energy and building technology, and sustainable and resilient built environments.

Affiliations and expertise

Associate Professor, Solar Design and Building Performance Simulation, Faculty of Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Francesco Goia

Francesco Goia is a Professor of Building Physics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on advanced building envelopes and services providing high energy efficiency and indoor climate performance.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Building Physics, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Annalisa Andaloro

Annalisa Andaloro is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Renewable Energy in EURAC, focusing on system integration and project economics. She coordinates an executive international training course on façade architecture, construction, and engineering (FACE).

Affiliations and expertise

Senior Researcher, Institute for Renewable Energy, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy.

Alberto Sangiorgio

Alberto Sangiorgio is an Associate at Grimshaw Architects (Sydney) where he operates as façade engineer and sustainability manager. He has extensive international experience in the design, optimization, and construction of high-performing building envelopes.

Affiliations and expertise

Associate and Sustainability Manager, Grimshaw Architects, Sydney, NSW, Australia