Building Facades Research Articles

Maximizing solar energy generation: guidelines for optimizing photovoltaic panel placement on building facades

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to address the research problem of optimizing photovoltaic (PV) panel placement on building facades to maximize solar energy generation.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines the significance of various design configurations and their implications for PV system performance. The research involves analysis of relevant literature and energy simulations. An exemplary case study is conducted in a hot climate zone to quantify the impacts of PV panel placement on energy generation. Various application scenarios are developed, resulting in 28 scenarios for PV on building facades. Energy simulations using Grasshopper Rhino software and Ladybug plugin components are performed.FindingsThe paper identifies key factors influencing PV panel placement and energy generation through qualitative analysis. It introduces an appropriateness matrix as a decision-making framework to evaluate placement options. The study identifies design configurations and external features impacting PV location selection and performs a qualitative classification to determine their impact on energy generation.Practical implicationsThe results and decision-making framework enable informed choices based on solar radiation levels, shading conditions, and building requirements. Optimizing PV panel placement enhances solar energy harvesting in buildings, benefiting architects and engineers.Originality/valueThe novel contributions of this paper include practical insights and guidance for strategically placing PV panels on building facades.

Peak pressures on high-rise buildings roof: A dual approach through validated LES and wind tunnel experiments with uncertainty quantification

Understanding the accuracy of predicted peak pressure in wind engineering is crucial for effective risk assessment and structural design. This study investigates the capacity of large eddy simulation (LES) in predicting peak pressure coefficients on the flat roof and facade of a high-rise building, incorporating uncertainty quantification from 11-hour equivalent full-scale experimental measurements. The isolated and group configurations under 0° and 45° wind angles are analysed.The performance of two estimation methods for peak pressure coefficients – the traditional “epochal” approach and peaks over threshold (POT) – is evaluated, determining the optimal set of parameters that minimises uncertainty. While the stationarity test reaches satisfactory residuals for a 75-minute equivalent full-scale duration, 25- and 37.5-minute durations are also analysed. The traditional approach is preferred for its reliability and consistency, although POT notably excels in capturing higher peak pressure coefficients.Numerical results demonstrate negligible differences across all analysed durations and align well with experimental findings. A 25-minute equivalent full-scale duration is found to be a suitable representative of the entire signal. However, notable discrepancies near the upwind corners on the roof, with larger uncertainty in experimental data, underscore challenges in prediction accuracy for these regions. It emphasises importance of individual treatment and validation for each case.

Automatic mapping of high-risk urban areas for Aedes aegypti infestation based on building facade image analysis.

Dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, whose viruses are transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti, significantly impact human health worldwide. Despite the recent development of promising vaccines against the dengue virus, controlling these arbovirus diseases still depends on mosquito surveillance and control. Nonetheless, several studies have shown that these measures are not sufficiently effective or ineffective. Identifying higher-risk areas in a municipality and directing control efforts towards them could improve it. One tool for this is the premise condition index (PCI); however, its measure requires visiting all buildings. We propose a novel approach capable of predicting the PCI based on facade street-level images, which we call PCINet. Our study was conducted in Campinas, a one million-inhabitant city in São Paulo, Brazil. We surveyed 200 blocks, visited their buildings, and measured the three traditional PCI components (building and backyard conditions and shading), the facade conditions (taking pictures of them), and other characteristics. We trained a deep neural network with the pictures taken, creating a computational model that can predict buildings' conditions based on the view of their facades. We evaluated PCINet in a scenario emulating a real large-scale situation, where the model could be deployed to automatically monitor four regions of Campinas to identify risk areas. PCINet produced reasonable results in differentiating the facade condition into three levels, and it is a scalable strategy to triage large areas. The entire process can be automated through data collection from facade data sources and inferences through PCINet. The facade conditions correlated highly with the building and backyard conditions and reasonably well with shading and backyard conditions. The use of street-level images and PCINet could help to optimize Ae. aegypti surveillance and control, reducing the number of in-person visits necessary to identify buildings, blocks, and neighborhoods at higher risk from mosquito and arbovirus diseases.

Alternative material recommendation for facade cladding: High silica-containing stonepaste ceramics

This study investigated the potential of using stonepaste ceramics, which were widely preferred as a coating and decoration material on the facades of architectural buildings in ancient times and continues to be produced on a workshop scale today as a cladding material on building facades. Stonepaste ceramics, made from a mixture prepared with a high amount of crystalline quartz as well as frit, plastic clay, and bentonite raw materials, were hand-shaped and sintered at 930 °C after glazing. The physico-mechanical properties of stonepaste ceramics, their behaviour under various environmental conditions (resistance to chemicals, frost, and thermal shock), and their microstructures have been characterized. The characterization results were compared with the properties of commonly used facade cladding materials. It was determined that stonepaste ceramics had a very low firing shrinkage value (2.84 %) compared to that of other ceramic cladding materials, a higher water absorption value (11.79 %) than that of porcelain tiles and floor tiles, and close to wall tiles, and a flexural strength value (33.64MPa) higher than wall tiles and close to porcelain tiles despite the high-water absorption value. Ten cycles of thermal shock resistance showed that the body and glaze layer of the stonepaste ceramic material are well bonded to each other, and there is no significant thermal expansion mismatch between them. One hundred cycles of freeze-thaw conditions indicated that the stonepaste ceramic had good adhesion and thermal expansion compatibility between the glaze and the body but only chipping damage under the action of tensile forces caused by the freezing of water entering the pores of the body. In terms of behaviour against various chemicals, stonepaste ceramics were found to be highly resistant to high and low concentrations of household chemicals, swimming pool salts, and alkalis but less resistant to low concentrations of HCl and citric acid and high concentrations of HCl and lactic acid compared to other chemicals. The results show that stonepaste ceramics, despite their high-water absorption potential, have properties close to those of traditional ceramic tiles and, like these materials, can serve for significant periods in various environmental conditions when used as facade cladding. Consequently, it has been revealed that stonepaste ceramics can be used as a facade cladding material in sustainable, long-lasting, contemporary architectural facades thanks to their technical and protective properties.

Architectural Study of Colonial Building Facades in Indentifying the Existence of Heritage Tourism in Bireuen City

Abstract Conservation of historycal buildings is one of the objectives of sustainable heritage tourism. Bireuen City is one of the cities that has historycal heritage during the dutch-colonial colonial period in the form of buildings and environments. The purpose of this historycal building conservation research is to provide education to the community in the Bireuen City environment, in an effort to form a sense of belonging to heritage tourism assets and build Environmental Awareness so that it can then encourage a sense of responsibility to maintain its sustainability. Unique, distinctive and characterful architecture can be observed on a number of building facades such as past buildings and become a continuous comparison of the value of construction resilience, adaptation to the environment, and natural disasters. This research uses qualitative descriptive methods with field observation, interview, and documentation techniques. The results of the study are the discovery of the heritage tourism area, identification of the physical identity of colonial architectural facades, historycal values of colonial architecture and education to the public

Dynamic facades for sustainable buildings: A review of classification, applications, prospects and challenges

Dynamic facades (DFs) can potentially transform how we design and experience buildings. Their adaptability to changing environmental conditions can significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, while also enhancing the comfort of building occupants. Smart materials and automated systems enable these facades to optimize daylighting, control heat gain, and improve ventilation – resulting in energy savings of up to 50% and CO2 emission reductions of up to 40% compared to traditional static facades. Despite the challenges of high initial costs and maintenance requirements, this study proposes a classification scheme for DFs, providing a systematic approach to understanding their diverse technologies and potential applications. This study aims to fill a gap in the lack of comprehensive information on DF design concepts, configurations, and details. A thorough review of 26 international case studies underscores the real-world energy-saving impacts of DF designs. To fully realize the long-term benefits, this research underscores the crucial need for in-depth techno-economic analysis that considers the life cycle costs (LCC) of DFs. Such analysis will equip stakeholders with the knowledge to make informed decisions that balance economic considerations with the environmental benefits of DFs. Despite the remaining challenges, DFs offer a promising path towards more energy-efficient buildings and healthier and more comfortable indoor environments. The performance gains demonstrated in this study make DFs a compelling solution for shaping the future of sustainable building design. However, continued research focused on DF systems classification, performance analysis, and economic viability will be crucial to making this innovative technology accessible and impactful on a broader scale.

INCREASING THE WATER RESISTANCE OF THE PLASTER MIXTURE BASED ON GYPSUM-CONTAINING BINDER

The article considers the prospects of using gypsum-based composite materials for repairing damaged walls of limestone-shell rock buildings. Repairing damaged shell rock structures with cement compositions intensifies destructive processes; the use of lime-sand mixtures for repair work on building facades is problematic due to their prolonged hardening. The article substantiates the use of gypsum as the basis of the repair composition. The use of gypsum composites for exterior works requires a significant increase in their water resistance. A plaster mixture based on an ash-cement binder with an addition of lime is proposed; a series of samples with different component contents were made in the planned experiment. Their water resistance was studied using two criteria: the conventional softening coefficient (Кр) and the new one - the water resistance index (Iw); a comparison of these criteria was performed. The significant dependence of these criteria on the measurement conditions, which are not currently standardized, is established. Mathematical models of water resistance characteristics have been built, with the help of which the influence of the content of components on the resistance of the plaster composition to water has been analyzed. To further improve the water resistance of the mixture, a hydrophobizing additive was selected in terms of surface wetting and water absorption. Further research is aimed at optimizing the repair composition using plasticizing, hydrophobizing, and adhesive additives.

Energetical effect of electrochromic glazing on the double-skin façade of the building in different climates

Today, energy has an essential role in the world’s future, and managing its consumption can be very influential and crucial in human life. Most of the energy consumption in any country is related to building. The aim of writing this article is to investigate the effect of combining electrochromic glazing and double skin facades. For this purpose, a double skin facade building with simple glass and a building in which electrochromic is used in the second layer of the facade were compared. These buildings were designed by Design Builder. The results demonstrated significant reductions in energy consumption in the second case. To study the effect of weather on the performance of this system, four cities in Iran with diverse climates have been selected. The energy consumption of cooling, heating, lighting, electricity, and gas utilization of the same building in different climates was studied. Using electrochromic glazing in the double-skin facade reduced the annual electrical consumption of the entire building by up to 3.5% for hot_humid weather. Also, the total annual gas consumption of the building was reduced up to 22.7% for hot and dry weather.

Integrating aesthetics and sustainability: evaluating the aesthetic perception of photovoltaic installation on the apartment building façade in Jordan

PurposeThis study evaluates the aesthetic perception of photovoltaic (PV) systems situated at various locations on an apartment building facade, comparing them with the original facade. It also aims to understand how aesthetic dimensions influence the perception of PV installations in diverse building locations. Moreover, it aims to create a framework that will guide for installing PV installations considering both their functionality and aesthetics.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a mixed-method approach, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. It includes a literature review and a questionnaire. 418 participants evaluated different PV-embedded facades using a Likert scale across various aesthetic variables.FindingsThe findings indicate that aesthetic perceptions of PV vary by the location of installation. It also shows that all aesthetic dimensions affect PV installation aesthetics, with location-specific preferences. For original elevation, compatibility and simplicity are given precedence over blending and coherence for windows, creativity and harmony for facades, functionality and harmony for balconies, and innovation potential and simplicity for roofs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on a single building type; further investigation is required to examine other building types. It also examined one PV technology with common visual properties, but future studies can examine others. Additional research is needed to compare the participating groups and the effect of their sociodemographic factors, using on-site surveys and interviews.Originality/valueFew studies have investigated how PV systems affect apartment building users' architectural aesthetic perception. The results of this study make a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable architecture by providing practical guidance for architects, engineers, stakeholders, and researchers who are interested in integrating aesthetic, user-centric considerations into renewable energy solutions.

Visual Perception of Regularity and the Composition Pattern Type of the Facade

The present study investigates the degree of visual regularity perceived by viewers in architectural compositions, specifically concerning the type of pattern used. The research is grounded in psychological and neuropsychological universal determinants of visual perception, particularly the perception of visual regularity. The study is based on an empirical survey that involved 48 participants who rated various compositions on a Likert scale. The stimuli presented consisted of a typology of compositional patterns of facades of Polish multifamily buildings developed by Malewczyk, Taraszkiewicz, and Czyż in 2022. The survey results were subjected to statistical analyses, which revealed a clear relationship between the type of composition and its perceived regularity. This implies that architects can predict the perceived regularity of a composition based on its type, which is crucial since visual regularity is closely linked to the sense of spatial order and aesthetic value. Both of these aspects are vital for perceiving architecture as a built environment. The study highlights the significance of visual perception in architectural design, particularly how the public perceives composition types.

A Residential Building Extension Prototype to face Post-Pandemic Needs: Foreseen Challenges and Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of outdoor spaces for maintaining physical and mental well-being. However, many urban residents lack private outdoor areas, which led to harmful health consequences during lockdowns. The research project aims to address and solve this issue by developing a physical/digital prototype called “X-TEND” that extends living space outdoors by attaching it to existing multi-story residential building facades. This prototype intends to promote healthier lifestyles, improving the well-being of individuals and positively impacts the urban surroundings aesthetics. X-TEND prototype uses a light, modular, and prefabricated approach for cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. It incorporates generative processes for structural and bioclimatic optimisation complemented by green building strategies to reduce environmental impact while maximising thermal and energy performance. Ultimately, X-TEND prototype contributes to a more sustainable built environment, fostering healthier and more liveable cities for current and future generations.

The influence of the application of glass curtain walls on architectural style and architectural facade design techniques

In recent years, with the increasingly rapid development of the glass curtain wall and its gradually mature use in architecture, many designers choose to use glass curtain walls when designing buildings in order to get the desired building facade effect. As a result, there are many new architectural styles and building facade effects. Against this background, this paper discusses how glass curtain wall is applied in architecture and how it helps and influences architectural design styles and techniques. To conclude, the glass curtain wall has been widely used in the design of high-rise buildings and public buildings at this stage, and it also helps designers to more conveniently adjust the virtual-real relationship of building facades and the overall architectural style. The use of large-area glass curtain walls in the design of facades can achieve special effects that cannot be replaced by other materials. At the same time, the application of glass facades also promotes the process of architectural design modernization.

Retrofits of multi-storey office building facade

The city of Jakarta is the 7th big city in the world that has the most high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings in Jakarta were built from 1971 until now and in the 90s it was the peak of the construction of high-rise buildings such as offices and apartment. Tall Buildings with glass facade, concentrating plans are the most typology of office high-rise buildings in Jakarta. Buildings with the dominance of glass facade that reflect heat cause an increase in temperature in the microclimate and a decrease in building performance resulting in the amount of energy used by buildings, especially air conditioners. Building facade play an important role in reducing the improvement of the microclimate and energy use in buildings. Therefore, an analysis was carried out on the BRI II building on Jalan Sudirman Jakarta as a case study that represents the typology of the most office buildings in Jakarta. It turns out that this building has a high OTTV (Overall Thermal Transfer Value) value, so the largest AC cooling load comes from the building casing. Therefore, facade retrofit is one of the alternatives that can be done to reduce energy use, especially air conditioning. After that, a simulation of the casing retrofit to obtain a significant retrofit action can reduce the AC energy used through ottv value reduction analysis.

Analysis of the facade and spatial quality of educational buildings of the first national architecture period: The case of Konya

In the last years of the 19th century, architects who were under the influence of the nationalist ideas that developed in the last years of the 19th century and were strengthened with the declaration of the constitutional monarchy, led to the emergence of the First National Architectural Period as a reaction. They also considered this period as an eclectic architectural style in which they reinterpreted the facade, plan and ornamental elements of Ottoman and Seljuk architecture with Western construction techniques. In this architectural process, many public buildings, hotels, bank buildings, ministry buildings, educational buildings and residences were built. Educational buildings are an important group among the new types of buildings constructed in Konya, which has maintained its political and cultural importance throughout history. In this study, the façade and spatial quality analyses of the Sanayi Mektebi, Male Teachers' High School (Dârü-l Muallimin), Girl Teachers' School (Dârü-l Muallimat) and Gazi Mustafa Kemal, Hakimiyet-i Milliye and İsmet Paşa Primary Schools, which are among the educational buildings built during the First National Architectural Period and which contributed to the identity of the city of Konya, were examined. The authenticity and conservation values of the selected educational buildings were determined and compared with each other. According to the results obtained from the façade and spatial analyses of these samples; authenticity values are determined depending on the rate of having the characteristics of the period and conservation criteria. The fact that no previous study has been carried out in this period and group of buildings using the method defined increases the originality value of the subject.

Heritage building facades preservation: Automatic fresh air curtain wall generation for air pollutant dilution based on digital twins

Heritage building facades preservation: Automatic fresh air curtain wall generation for air pollutant dilution based on digital twins

The Impact of Using Heritage Architectural Elements in The Facades of Contemporary Buildings: The Shanashil in the Facades of Contemporary Houses in Iraq

The Impact of Using Heritage Architectural Elements in The Facades of Contemporary Buildings: The Shanashil in the Facades of Contemporary Houses in Iraq

Building facade structure extraction method based on three-dimensional laser point cloud by considering semantic information

ABSTRACT Building facade structures serve as important data support for three-dimensional (3D) building modelling. A building facade structure extraction method based on 3D Laser Point Cloud Data (LPCD) by considering semantic information is proposed. The proposed method mainly involves three steps. First, an improved 3D LPCD semantic segmentation method is introduced to extract and label point clouds as the building structure and walls. Second, structure line segments are recognized from the initial building facade structure based on the Regulated Block RANSAC (RB-RANSAC) algorithm. Third, geometric information such as distance, vector and positional relationship between structure line segments is considered to optimize the initial building facade structure. The proposed method can effectively extract and fit segment structures by considering the semantic and geometric information, obtaining significantly accurate and concise building facade structures. Case studies on 3D LPCD of local buildings and open-source datasets (Semantic3D) prove the extraction accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.

Genetic Algorithm-Driven Optimization of Pattern for Parametric Facade Design Based on Support Position Data to Increase Visual Quality

One of the most critical challenges for architects in façade design is providing an effective view from the indoors to the outdoors of a building for users, although the main role of the parametric façade is covering openings to control daylight and temperature. This study uses a genetic algorithm to optimize and evaluate the number and place of nodes and the position of supports required for a parametric façade based on the geometric patterns. Using the dataset with genetic algorithms is effective in reducing or replacing the nodes and supports of the façade. It also creates broader and irregular patterns just around the windows, which decreases the visual disturbance experienced by occupants. Accordingly, optimal building facade operation in terms of both building aesthetics and performance is important. The method used in this study, validated through three geometric grid patterns based on node positions, can be used to analyze dataset-incorporated patterns for potential irregular façade extensions. The nodes are considered by analyzing the cross-section optimization using the Galapagos program, and then data are obtained with Karamba based on reaction force, node force, and the deformation energy. The results show that among the three grid patterns, i.e., triangular, square, and hexagonal, the hexagonal grid is most efficient, exhibiting up to 60% lower reaction force, 40% lower node force, and 30% less deformation energy than the square grid pattern. The proposed GA also shows its effectiveness in enhancing the performance of parametric façades with patterns, thereby improving the occupants’ visual experience.

The ways to improve the facade architecture of 1970s typical residential buildings

A significant part of the 1970s housing stock of large cities of the Russian Federation is in need of renovation. However, there is no renovation programme for the 9-storey panel housing stock, unlike the 5-storey housing stock, which is now being developed in Moscow. It is proposed to solve the problem of modernisation of facades of typical residential buildings without resettlement of tenants by minimal architectural means, which can contribute to the formation of a favourable modern urban environment in these old quarters. Possible solutions are offered on the basis of modern and historical world experience in panel house-building.

Graffiti in Irkutsk and the region

Regional projects “Open Air Museum” and “Area of Achievements” are youth projects in the Irkutsk region focused on painting facades of residential buildings with large-scale images.