Eco-adaptive building skin: design methodology & computational tools for eco-adaptive envelopes

Nowadays, progresses in the field of information and communication technology, science of materials, building technology and design computing allow to imagine cutting edge buildings able to show innovative performances in terms of adaptability and interaction with environmental conditions, as well as with human activities and needs. New methods and strategies and advanced computational tools allow the design high-performance building skins. This paper introduces a new methodology to design “eco-adaptive” envelopes. Furthermore, a new computational tool, based on a visual algorithm, implements the aforementioned approach. The purposes of the methodology includes the following operations: - Evaluation of adaptive envelope's behaviors in terms of responsiveness with specific environmental conditions. This research analyzed a number of realized study cases. The actual effectiveness of its adaptive facades is evaluated by the comparison with standard systems. - Design of “short term” or “long term” adaptive envelopes. In both cases, results are outputs of optimized processes in which performances, morphologies and sizes are properly studied and tailored for any specific context by considering the interactions among buildings and several environmental factors. The results are outputs of digital analysis and simulations. The digital simulations are set by a multi-tools computational platform, based on visual programming language, in which advanced modeling and building energy software are, simultaneously, involved. Both, the methodology and the instrument are applied to a pilot project. This project consists in an architectural refurbishment and environmental retrofitting of an existing building in Rome: Ex Ministero delle Finanze. In accordance with the aforementioned method, the new virtual façade is conceived as a “complex adaptive system” which considers a number of inputs, stored in “open data infrastructure and platform”, to adapt its morphology and behavior via a “data driven design” process.