Bioclimatic building design theory and application

Abstract

Ecological thinking is the recognition of the dialectic unity between natural and man-made environment, the respect to what exists around us, and the concomitant “openness” toward others.Here, I present examples from my own work to describe a number of passive bioclimatic approaches focused on the above principles. First, the use of the wind as an expressive element in building design, including the enhancement of air flow in the interior space, the moderation of wind and sand accumulation, the moderation of the sound carried by prevailing winds, and the conversion of the wind into a means of protection against its own force. Second, the use of adaptive building envelopes and shading systems to achieve control of natural light, ventilation and temperature of the inner space through their own transformability, surface openings and materials, including planting as a building material; in a sense, treating buildings as living organisms. Three of these examples have been included in the H2020-MSCA-RISE OptArch project, in which I am scientifically responsible for the work package WP5 entitled “Improvement of bioclimatic design through optimization of performance”.