Principal Solutions for Sustainable Adaptive Facades Providing Suitable Indoor Environment for Inhabitants

Abstract

Façade as a part of building envelope represents its dominant portion. The initial function of façade was to ensure safety for inhabitants against weather and animals. Growing interest in increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, caused mainly by oil crisis in the 70s, led to the development of scientific area, actually known as building physics. The goal established in the start was to design architectural, structural and material solutions that would lead to the reduction of building`s energy consumption coming from heating. The principle was to properly insulate the whole envelope avoiding thermal bridges and utilization of selected thermal insulating windows and doors. The trend of material development for thermal insulation composite systems is soaring, same as demands of society. What was in the past the main desire, reducing the energy consumption for heating, is now reflected in even higher requirements such as energy consumption for cooling. Minimizing thermal bridges and tightness of fenestration on the one side leads to savings on heating, but on the other hand, the heat coming mainly from sunlight, electric equipment, people and other resources is necessary to cover with enough cooling. Applying of reflexive glazing represents frequently used passive solution but also causes lack of natural daylight leads to higher energy consumption for artificial light despite large transparent walls. Energy savings made from reduction of air changes requires mechanical ventilation systems with the necessary of air treatment also consuming energy and in addition also requires regular maintenance. Modern solutions are based on adaptive façade which is capable to react on random meteorological changes to ensure reduction of energy flows through the façade. The paper discusses various conceptual solutions providing architectural intelligent and energy-friendly designs. Particular ideas offers protection against overheating, but same time allows penetrating natural daylight enough during all seasons. Elements of dynamic photovoltaic panels, aesthetically and effectively built-in façade, provide in addition to significant architectural look and also represent available source of pure energy supporting sustainable architecture.