Energy-Based Design: Improving Modern Brazilian Buildings Performance through Their Shading Systems, the Nova Cintra Case Study

Abstract

Current research applies an energy-based design model to improve performance in existing modern buildings, in Rio de Janeiro, from the 1940’s, improving these buildings’ shading systems. This article proposes a methodology tested through a case study, the Nova Cintra building. The methodology starts by analysing the original shading system performance, regarding insolation, illuminance and air temperature. Using these results, proposes two computacional methods to improve performance: (1) a combinatorial modelling process, recombining the existing shading systems positions in the building’s north façade; and (2) a transformation process, using parametric and algorithmic–parametric modelling, to improve the existing shading systems performance. Both processes use optimization algorithms. The results of these modelling and optimization methods are compared with the results of the original system and suggests an improvement between 111.1% and 590.4% for insolation; between 360.9% and 84.4% for illuminance; and between 2.9% and 3.0% for air temperature, considering winter and summer solstices. This improvement aims at reducing the buildings’ energy consumption and foresees the production of renewable energy from solar harvesting, to mitigate climate change.

Carioca modern façades: improving the performance of existing Brazilian modern buildings through their shading systems, the Bristol case study

“…3 -Change parameters of modules, for example change spacing parameters or brises shading angle (mathematical optimization). The authors address the first process and the third (Mateus & Henriques, 2023).…”

The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events

“…Climate change mitigation can also occur through targeted interventions, particularly in the context of improving building energy performance. In this regard, Mateus and Henriques [16] employed computational methods to apply a parametric energy-based design model to 1940s modern buildings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by upgrading and optimizing the existing external shading systems. The main goal of this improvement is to decrease the overall building energy consumption while envisioning the generation of renewable energy through solar harvesting.…”