Adaptive forms and materials for energy efficient buildings skins

This research aims to develop an innovative methodology and the related computational workflow to design energy efficient buildings equipped with climate responsive building skins able to respond dynamically (thanks to their form and materials) to environment conditions changing over the time. This methodology, called adaptiveB&S (Building & Skin), is applicable in different climate zones and consists in a computational form finding method oriented to the optimization of energy performance of buildings also in changing environmental conditions. This theme is the topic of different actual researches, but the innovativeness of adaptiveB&S lies in the fact that its application is not limited to the building skin. Indeed, the developed “fluid path” starts from the micro urban-scale with the design of the site and of the building (e.g. building´s shape, orientation towards the cardinal points, positioning in the lot, presence of green spaces etc.), goes to the building-scale (windows-to-wall ratio in the different orientated façades) and finally comes to the skin-scale (façade geometry, materials). In addition, the goal of all this design process is not just the reduction of the energy demand for heating and cooling of the building, but also the improving of the level of the environmental comfort in the indoor spaces and also in the outdoor areas nearby. Applicability and functionality of adaptiveB&S has been tested in the design of office buildings located in Berlin. Results of this application are presented in this paper. At the moment, this working methodology is tested in different climate regions of the world to design energy efficient buildings characterized by a climate adaptive skin.