Facade Lecture
Facade Lecture
Facade Lecture
Sealant: Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through the surface or
joints or openings in materials.
Unitized curtain
Unitized curtain systems are composed of large glass units that
are created and glazed within a factory and then sent to the
construction site. Once on site, the units can then be hoisted
onto anchors connected to the building.
• SPIDER GLASS CURTAIN WALLS. Spider
glass facade is a system for point-supported
vertical glazing in which thermally
toughened (tempered) glass sheets are
used, in single glazing or in insulated glass.
Tempered glass is about four times stronger than
"ordinary," or annealed, glass. And unlike annealed
glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when
broken, tempered glass fractures into small,
relatively harmless pieces. As a result, tempered
glass is used in those environments where human
safety is an issue
Backer rods are usually round, flexible lengths of foam that are used as a “backing” in joints
or cracks to help control the amount of sealant/caulking used and create a back stop. Many
sizes/diameters are available for optimal fitting to the size of the joint being sealed.
Double-skin facade
• Consists of two glass skins bifurcated by an
intermediate cavity.
Bolted Connections
Anchor Bolt Connections
• Loop Box/wire loop connection : for efficient connection of
prefabricated concrete elements ; flexible wire loops in the case
spring into the correct position when the cover is opened.
Laborious rebending of rebar elements is therefore not
necessary.
solar facade system
• utilizing solar panels for the building facade
• A solar facade system converts sun rays into
energy and most facades can be used for solar
cladding. Ventilated solar facade technology
offers many advantages such as electricity
production, facade insulation, extra thermal
properties, noise reduction etc
• A solar facade system converts sun rays into
energy and most facades can be used for solar
cladding. Renewable energy systems can be
installed against the facade and integrated
into the facade. Solar facade
systems guarantee harmonious integration of
photovoltaics into building facades.
Structure integrated
solar solutions
• “Media Façades” are defined via their
surfaces, skins or membranes, which address
the public audience with their visual electronic
program.
In 2007, a LED based illumination was installed
on the northern side of the Empire State
Building, which can be seen as a forerunner
version of today’s media façades.
• Translucent systems: LED containing rods are woven into the mesh in equal
distances. This product is easily mounted on and removed from existing façades. The
resolution is video capable and is run by a computer. The central server is even
remote controllable via internet, allowing interactive and dynamic content
presentation. The horizontal pixel distance is 4,25cm minimum, while the vertical
pixel distance is 3cm minimum.
54
Horizontal shading (depth)
Dynamic depth
Length: 8m
Maximum depth: 1m
Minimum depth: 0.1m
Fixed depth: 1 m
1m
• Depth changes every week during the year when
necessary
• Maximum depth for every week is defined by the sun’s
altitude at noon (12:00)
• Maximum depth during winter
• Minimum depth during summer
• Sun’s altitude takes its lowest values during winter (42 O)
and its highest values during summer (89 O)
One of the dynamic shading cases was the depth of the overhang. It has a horizontal
position above the window and its depth changes throughout the year between 1m
and 0.1 m according to our sun path analysis. For the corresponding static model,
we kept the depth at 1 m for the whole year. 55
Tilt shading (angle)
Dynamic tilt
• Overhang dimensions: 1m x 8 m
• Maximum tilt: 90O (horizontal)
• Minimum tilt: 60O
• Tilt changes every week
• Maximum tilt for every week is defined by the
sun’s altitude at noon (12:00)
• Maximum tilt during summer (90O)
0.866m
• Minimum tilt during winter (60O)
0.5m
Fixed tilt: 60º
60O
• Sun’s altitude takes its lowest values during 1.5m
winter (42O) and its highest values during 1m
summer (89O)
56
Results of shading simulation
7.9 %
6.5 %
•
requirements (lights increase temperature inside a building)
• Alternative shading schemes should be investigated (for more beneficial results)
58
Façade Design Approches
Bimimicry
Parametric
Fractal
Biomimicry
• Nature has evolved systems that can be mimicked to solve design problems and create a more
sustainable future. When nature has a problem, evolution weeds out what doesn’t work and
selects the most effective adaptations. Humans could also address environmental problems by
using biomimicry — examining nature’s solutions and applying them to human designs.
• This mass housing design borrows heavily from the beehive. It doesn’t just mimic the shape
but also takes into account the self-cleaning and self-sufficient nature of the beehive.
• The private spaces in all towers are composed of individually unique beehive-like cells. The
exterior skin of the towers consists of hexagonal lattice structures that derive from the unique
spatial structure and create the unique appearance of the towers. The hexagonal openings are
filled with various types of glass. The water distribution system also carries up to 30% of the
cooling load during the summer and cleans the glass windows of the building in the heavily
polluted city of Seoul.
• Atop the glass is a geo-textile that allows for the growth of vines and other flora that provide
additional cooling and environmental advantages to the building and surrounding site.
• Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and
mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a new
discipline that studies nature's best ideas and
then imitates these designs and processes to
solve human problems.
• Since 1970, a major problem worldwide is energy shortage
along with the high consumption of energy in buildings.
Architects are attempting to find solutions for managing
buildings energy consumption. One innovative approach is
Biomimicry ,Which is defined as the applied science that
derives inspiration for solutions to human problems
through the study of natural designs, systems, and process
• A subcategory of biomimicry is building skin which forms
the entire exterior of the building. It is the boundary
through which the buildings interaction with the
environment occurs. Proper management of the building
skin can significantly reduce the building's energy demand.
• Biomimicry has been applied in many fields
ranging from transportation, the car industry,
electronics and clothing. Through research in
biology Biomimicry can offer new
technological and contribute to advances in
several different fields
Biomimicry in Facades – Living Buildings Just like the surface
of a leaf, the ‘skin’ of future buildings may react to external
stimuli, opening, closing and breathing throughout the day
through a system of ‘cellular’ openings that allow light, air
and water in the apartments contained within.
Name of building Inspiration Application in Problem solved Level of
design biomimicry
National Aquatics Center, Water bubbles -The surface is -The bubbles collect solar Organism level
Bejing covered with energy that heats swimming
membrane of lit pools. -Allows for
blue bubbles of temperature regulation.
pneumatic
cushion created
from ETFE
allowing for the
bubble effect.
Bejing National Stadium Birds Nest -Contains ETFE -Facade openings allow for Behavior Level
panels that natural ventilation -panels
insulate by reduce the dead load
stuffing small supported by the roof. -cost
pieces of reduction, durable, and
materials in the recyclable.
twigs. -Panels
protect and
provide sunlight
filtration.
Daylight control
• Daylight can be used to counterbalance the use
of electrical lighting and ensure a positive effect
on not only the productivity of the occupants
but also their mood. According to studies, in the
absence of proper solar control, occupants tend
to draw blinds when visual or thermal comfort
thresholds are exceeded. These blinds are likely
to remain closed for some time, negating the
potential benefits of having the window in the
first place.
Facades generating Power – Photovoltaic Glass Unit
(PGU) Building integrated photovoltaic’s capture the
solar radiations and turn it into energy. A high level
of energy generation (up to 12 percent efficiency)
can be generated through Photovoltaic Glass unit.
The advantage of this technology is that it is allowing
the usage of fenestration part of the building as
PGU’s provides transparency to the human eye upto
70 per cent.
• Thermally Dynamic Facades – Phase Change
Materials (PCM) Façade, which responds in
accordance with the variations in outdoor conditions.
Thermally dynamic facades use phase change
material wherein a layer of salt crystals captures the
heat radiated by the sun and release it back to the
environment during non-operational hours. The
thickness of conventional materials used in buildings
is much more than the equivalent heat capacity of a
one-centimetre-thick PCM.