Design of Innovative Parametric/Dynamic Façade Integrated in the Library Extension Building on UAEU Campus

Abstract

The building industry is in constant change and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a leader in innovative solutions for green buildings. The standards used in achieving sustainable buildings, such as LEED, Estidama, have contributed to building structures that reduce energy consumption. More than 40% of the total energy is consumed by residential and commercial buildings as electricity. The strategies applied in a building in order to have low energy consumption vary depending on the region and climate. In the UAE, a country with a hot arid climate, these strategies have relevant importance. The aim of this study is to design an innovative parametric/dynamic façade in a new building, to be built on the United Arab Emirates University Campus, AL Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The new structure is an additional library building (with additional functions to the current building). The design shall be based on the region’s architectural heritage. The modelling and simulation tools used are Rhino and plug-ins like Grasshopper. Furthermore, an optimization process of the parametric/dynamic façade is conducted. Based on the energy simulation results, the application of the innovative parametric/dynamic façade brings a reduction of 25% in the energy consumption of the building. In addition, the daylight improvement by the application of this façade is 44%. This research brings innovation in terms of the advanced tools used in calculating several parameters for the advanced façade and the process from concept to modeling and simulation. These findings are promising for regional industry due to the advanced tools and methods used. Moreover, it shall help the local authorities such as Abu Dhabi Municipality achieve the sustainability goals 2030.

Fraktal Geometri ile Dinamik ve Esnek Cephe Tasarımı Geliştirilmesi

“…Today, where energy conservation is of utmost importance, façade approaches defined as intelligent, kinetic, adaptable, and dynamic have been put forward to improve energy performance and indoor comfort levels (Bande, Hamad, Alqahtani, Alnahdi, Ghunaim, Fikry & Alkhatib, 2022). Dynamic and flexible/adaptable facades are classified as mechanical systems in which various mechanisms are adapted to the facade, hydraulic systems that provide movement on the facade with pistons placed in the cylinder, and pneumatic systems that can move by pumping air and gas under pressure (Harry, 2016;Yaman & Arpacıoğlu, 2021).…”

A Study of the Impact of Parametric Façade Openings’ Design on Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption of Office Spaces in Egypt Using Simulation Based Techniques

“…This information-driven method permits architects to optimize the façade's performance through controlling sun heat gain, maximizing natural lighting, and minimizing energy intake. The dynamic nature of parametric façade's design permits adaptive responses to changing environmental conditions, enhancing each occupant's comfort, and improving energy performance [7].…”

“…An office building typology is frequently characterized by glazed façades which often cause major solar gain values, heavily influencing the building's cooling energy demand, thermal and visual comfort, and artificial lighting energy demand [6]. According to Bande et al (2022), buildings' façades are responsible for the loss of heat in winter seasons and heat gain in summer seasons [7]. These aspects have a severe impact on energy consumption.…”

Innovative, Modular Building Facades - as a Tool to Counteract The Effects of and to Prevent Climate Change

“…The best solution for integrating the interior and exterior of a building is considered to entail the use of a dynamic building façade structure, which makes it possible to adapt sunlight, ventilation, and thermal comfort of a building to changing conditions [5]. Contemporary design requires one to conceptualise kinetic façade solutions, to model prototypes of double façades, to make calculations of energy demand gains and losses during when buildings are in use [28].…”

“…Social, economic and ecological considerations play a decisive role when drawing up a building concept [16]. Modern material technologies based on the ability of plastics to respond to changes in the environment; use of dynamic, multifunctional façades that integrate the building's external and internal environments and use of smart tools make it possible to develop façade systems for future buildings, often mimicking biological processes using heuristic methods and parametric design [21,5]. Searching for modern materials and design techniques, subjecting existing engineering solutions to analyses, conceptualising, looking for new ideas, prototyping and implementing optimal methods are integral to the creation of new inventions that are an answer to the problems of the modern world [1,14].…”