Biomimetic-computational design for double facades in hot climates. A porous folded façade for office buildings

Biomimetic design is an approach that is gaining momentum among architects and designers. Computational design and performance simulation software represent powerful tools that help in applying biomimetic ideas in architectural design and in understanding how such proposals would behave. This paper addresses the challenge of reducing cooling loads while trying to maintain daylight needs of office buildings in hot climatic regions. Specifically, it focuses on double skin facades whose application in hot climates is somewhat controversial. Ideas from nature serve as inspiration in designing a porous, folded double façade for an existing building, aiming at increasing heat lost by convection in the façade cavity as well as reducing heat gained by radiation. The cooling loads and daylight autonomy of an office room are compared before and after the proposed design to evaluate its performance.