Building Transformation articles Future Façades | Page 5

GLOBAL CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY
05
As the global economy tries to recover from its last dip, huge investments are being made in
the construction industry, both in established and emerging markets.
It’s anticipated that the volume of
construction output will grow by
more than 70% to achieve an annual
worth of $15 trillion worldwide by
2025 (Source: Global Construction
Perspectives Report ). As the world
changes, traditional communications
continue to fragment, opportunities
and a desire for a better standard
of living has created a wave
of urbanisation. By 2050 it is
anticipated that there will be an extra
2 billion city dwellers across the
globe (Source: Global Construction
Perspectives Report ).
Migration combined with city
gentrification and the desire of the
wealthy to have more space may
seem as though it would result
in an unsustainable process of
change where urbanisation meets
traditional communications, where
there are no boundaries, just one
unsustainable sprawl and mass of
built environments.
Sustainability can only achieved if
both developed and developing
countries take the same or similar
action, working with an agreed
common global goal, considering
the context of the future, natural
resources& innovation; each
country, designer and construction
companysupporting the same
common global goal rather than
individual agendas. Innovation of new
energy efficiency products, optimising
current façade space to create more
sustainable building, proactively
protecting current built façadeassets,
integrating transport systems and
increasing resourcefulness will all
need to work together to support a
more sustainable global future.
In this article we review the current
options available to increase façade
performance and its contribution
towards creating a more sustainable
built environment. We consider
design and material innovation
along with exploring new, proactive
and unique façade management
and protection strategies that are
designed to enhance the façade
performance, support commercial
objectives and prolong architectural
design intent whilst also reducing
resource requirements for new
developments.
“To achieve a lasting transition
towards sustainability, large
scale conversion of our built
environments, cities, transport
& power generation is key.
Infrastructure built today
determines tomorrow’s burdens.”
Helga Weisz, Lead Editor for Potsdam
Institute for Climate Impact Research.
SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION & GREEN
BUILDING REGULATIONS
“What is the building’s legacy
and its long-term contribution to
sustainable urbanisation?”
Reece Wood, 2015
As towns and cities continue to grow
outwards and upwards the need and
responsibility to design and implement
more sustainable construction solutions
continues to increase. Green building
regulations have become a major
consideration for regions that are
experiencing higher urbanisation and
motorisation e.g. the Middle East.
There is strong evidence throughout
the globe that leading construction
companies are taking action and
demonstrating their commitment to
best practices solutions, following
guidelines such as those set out in the
US Green Building Council or Emirates
Green Building Council.
Is the answer to keep innovating
and developing new materials to
ensure that the construction targets
can be met for financial return? Is
building green good enough? Can the
long-term impact of building green
and working to new guidelines be
quantified?
Architectural design, innovation of
space and how building façades are
used within a new development to
save, preserve or create more energy
certainly has a massive part to play
in achieving greater performance as
well as a greater number of green
buildings.
Optimising a building envelope,
its façade, roof and elements of
external space will all support a more
sustainable urbanisation approach.
Building and façadedesign need to be
adapted to the geography to optimise
its opportunity to contribute and take
advantage of natural resourcesi.e.
sun, rain or wind, thus sustainable
urbanisation now and in the future.
Each building design and construction
needs a greater consideration from its
initial design and conception.
The UAE is now leading the way for
façade innovation, building efficiency
and sustainable futures. A change in
attitudes combined with huge steps
forward in product development
and performance has seen large
investment in many government or
university building façades such as the
installationof photovoltaic panels,LED
lighting, thermal insulation around
windowsor the application of specialist
Nanotechnology coatings to help
increase building efficiencies.
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