Building Transformation articles Future Façades | Page 6

SAMPLE FAÇADE MATERIAL INNOVATION &
PROTECTION SOLUTIONS
Without innovation of façade materials,
improvements in performance, reduction
in development costs, ease and speed of
application along with more creative uses
of built façades and space, the ambitions
of sustainability are devalued. Façades
account for a large percentage of the
external building composition, so it’s only
logical that this space is effectively utilised
to support sustainable building design,
energy savings, economicindependence,
reduced pollution and carbon footprint. Bioclimatic Façade Architecture in
New Construction
The UAE, Saudi Arabia & Qatar are spearheading
façade architecture and materials innovation,
taking advantage of the climatic opportunities
that surround them. These countries have the
highest share of green buildings in the Middle
East and the concept of green buildings through
façade material innovation is rapidly leading
the way of enhanced façade performance and
sustainability targets.
Throughout the UKand Europe, creative façade
design, material innovation and integration lead
the way on new façade construction, but there
is very little action, innovation or consideration
given to how current façades can be utilised
to help create more sustainableenvironments.
Façade refurbishment is common practice, but
the time allocated to reviewing the façade’s
contribution to sustainability or the installation
of new innovations to help façades contribute to
a more sustainable future could be questioned. Bioclimatic architecture is an important new international design
trend that can help to reduce building energy requirements and
dependency on external resources. Bioclimatic façade architecture
refers to designing more sustainable buildings to improve thermal
and visual performance. It refers to designing buildings and spaces
both interior and exterior, but ensuring local climatic conditions are
utilised to improve thermal and visual comfort, designs provide façade
protection from summer sun, reduce winter heat loss, and make use of
the environment (e.g. sun, air, wind, vegetation, water, soil, and sky) for
building heating, cooling and lighting.
It seems logical that the built environment
and façade space could help play a big part in
supporting future sustainability objectives, but
commercially there are many reasons as to why
such investments would be made when the
building owners have a different objective. The
challenge now is finding the solutions that create
commercial as well as sustainable interest for
commercial property owners. The Gherkin, London
Windows open on the outer skin to allow air to enter the cavity between the
inner and outer skin.
Over the past 10 years there has been real
progress infaçade innovation and its contribution
to sustainable building performance. Inspiration
and results from larger scale developments with
successful designs and performance returns
would ideally have the ability to be scaled down
to smaller development projects, soresults
can be positively scaled throughout the built
environment.
"There is a new international design trend that can help to
reduce building energy requirements where there is currently
an overreliance on air-conditioning in areas with hot or
humid climates."
University of Nottingham,
The applicability on the bio-climatic façade in hot and humid climates, 2013
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The building’s concrete structure is protected by a low cost external skin, which
automatically opens and closes in order to regulate solar gain and natural
ventilation.