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ADAPTABILITY LEVEL OF FACADE SYSTEMS REGARDING FACADE

PERFORMANCES

Conference Paper · May 2017

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Mine Koyaz
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Interd icip linary Persp ectives for Futu re Bu ilding En velop es

ADAPTABILITY LEVEL OF FACADE SYSTEMS

REGARDING FACADE PERFORMANCES

Mine KOYAZ
PhD candidate, Construction Sciences Program, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract
With the constantly developing technologies and the need of being
energy efficient, adaptive facades are receiving increasing attention.
Also referred as climate adaptive building shells, envelopes and skins,
in the literature, adaptive facades have the ability to adapt to the
changes in climatic conditions and keep the required indoor conditions.
The more adaptable the facade is, the less the need of any active
systems, less energy consumption, in order to satisfy the expected
comfort levels. There are various examples built and more in the
development process. However, the literature about the adaptive
facades is limited and scattered. This paper systematically gathers
different adaptive facade examples towards creating a framework for
classification and analysis. Selected examples, from different climates,
having different properties, are explored in detail and their adaptability
levels are discussed within the context of facade performances.
Thermal, light and air are referred as the facade performances. For
each example, system characteristics, factors affecting the facade and
its adaptive property related with the facade performances are
established and a qualitative evaluation of facades’ adaptability levels
are presented.

Keywords
Facade, Adaptability, Climate, Design, Performance.
1. Introduction
Climatic conditions has always been the one factor that effects the
architectural design. Looking back at the vernacular architecture, with
typical materials and systems, living environments are created to be
protected from the hostile environment. Today, with the
developments in technology, changes in life styles and needs, creating
a sustainable living environment has taken a different path. The current
main approaches for creating a low energy building could be listed as;
passive design strategies or use of active technologies.
The concept of climate adaptive facade distinguishes from a passive
design with its everlasting change in its properties over time. With a
passive approach, a building is formed to be durable enough under the
variable climate conditions, to be able to withstand the changes and
keep the interior atmosphere’s comfort levels. On the other hand with
an adaptive approach, the building envelope changes its functions,
features or behavior, accordingly with the exterior conditions in order
to keep the required interior comfort conditions.
As an element of the buildings envelope, as a separator between the
atmosphere and indoor environment, facade undertake different
performances. According to Kolarevic and Parlac, the key focus in
designing adaptive envelopes is better management of energy flows
with the aim of improving building’s performance and user
requirements (2015). By this way, the building envelope would be
sufficient enough to provide the desired comfort levels and the
necessity of using any active systems diminishes, hence the building
becomes energy efficient, in other words sustainable.
The aim of this paper is to analyze the adaptability levels of state-of-
the-art facade systems within the concept of facade performances.
Related with the indoor comfort conditions and energy consumption,
performances are defined as; thermal, light and air. As the scope of this
paper, several different adaptive facade examples all over the world
are gathered, classified by embracing different ways of adaptability and
“identification cards” are made to present the criteria for the analysis
of adaptability levels.

2. Adaptive Facades
2.1 Definition
There are several definitions and words trying to describe the adaptive
facade concept. Active, advanced, dynamic, flexible, innovative,
intelligent, interactive, kinetic, reactive, responsive, smart, switchable,
transformable are only some of the words used by the practitioners and
researchers in the context of adaptive (Addington and Schodek, 2012,
Aelenei et.al., 2016, Loonen et.al., 2013, Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015).
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Herzog et.al. states that, a facade can be intentionally designed to be
variable which allows it to manipulate the internal climate depending
on the requirements (2004). This phrase not only applies to a simple
window opening of a facade, but also the concept of adaptability in a
more complex form of facade components. Therefore, the term
adaptability could be simply described as, the ability of changing
properties over time under the effect of variable conditions. These
conditions, related with the climate, could be exemplified as, level of
daylight, outdoor temperature, humidity, wind speed, intensity of
rain…etc.

2.2 Classification
Different classification approaches in the literature are combined,
interpreted and new titles are added to form the followings (Addington
and Schodek, 2012, Loonen et.al., 2013, Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015).
The main classification is related with the properties and system
characteristics of the facade.
 Position of the adaptive component: The component of the facade
having the adaptable property could be either outside, inside of
the core or it could be integrated with it.
 Scale of adaptation: The adaptation could be a change in the
building envelope system via moving components, which is
classified as macro or the chance could be directly within the
component or material, which is classified as micro.
 Actuation of the adaptive component: Related with the actuation,
an adaptive component could be mechanical, pneumatic,
hydraulic or material-based. This type of classification not only
states how the adaptability occurs, but also it embrace the scale
of adaptation. Mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic type of
actuation indicates a macro level change whereas material-based
type of actuation indicates a micro level adaptation. Material-
based actuation could be sub-categorized as property-changing or
energy-exchanging, depending on the physical change that occurs
in the material.
 Time scale: Depending on the response time of the adaptable
component it could be categorized as a change within seconds,
minutes, hours, diurnal or seasons.
 Control types: Under variable conditions, facade could show
adaptability either by a supervisory control unit, which is classified
as extrinsic, or as an inherent feature of the component, which is
classified as intrinsic.
In several different studies, adaptive facades are analyzed related with
the facades performances. In a relation with the comfort levels of the
indoor environment and based on the classification of facade’s
properties, in this study, performances are considered as thermal,
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light and air related. In order to determine the relevant performance,
the variable conditions effecting the facade, how it adapts and what is
changing in the facade should also be stated. So, another framework
for classification could be driven as follows.
 Impulse: The effecting condition, which is changing over time.
Related with the climatic factors, impulse could be the level of
sun, the movement of sun, outdoor temperature, wind speed,
humidity levels, amount of rain…etc.
 Adaptive property: Under an impulse what is changing in the
facade system in order to adapt the new conditions.
 Response: The resulting condition, which is changing over time.
Related with the facade performances, response could be the
level of light permeability, thermal resistance, ventilation, solar
radiation…etc.

2.3 Defining adaptability levels

Towards forming a systematical framework, three main titles could be
mentioned for the analysis of adaptability levels; system characteristic,
hostile environment and facade performances. How well the facade
adapts to its climate, is to be evaluated according to which
performances are necessary to be related and are the performances
met with the adaptive properties. As the scope of this paper a set of
criteria for the analysis of adaptability levels are established and a
qualitative evaluation of chosen examples are presented.
Known state-of-the-art facade systems, in different climates, which
referred as adaptive in several different sources, are gathered and a
mapping is prepared [Figure 1]. Climate of each example are classified
with respect to Köppen-Geiger climate classification (Peel et.al., 2007).
Embracing the stated classification titles, ten of the examples, having
different properties, having different climatic conditions and each
having a technological property, are chosen to be explored in detail.
“Identification cards” are prepared for the chosen examples of
adaptive facade systems. Each card, includes the name, architect,
location, date, photos, detail drawing and classification of the example
[Figure 2-11]. Diagrams made for each example, visualize the
classification titles. Over an abstract drawing of building envelope
section, adaptive component’s position is shown in red, button icon
indicates extrinsic control, pie chart showing time scale and impulses,
related with the performance impulses are shown as sun light,
radiation or wind icons.

3. Exploring Adaptive Facades

Identification cards that are made for ten selected example and their
brief explanations are presented under this chapter.

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 Figure 1. Mapping of the state-of-the-art Adaptive Facade Examples
Arab World Institute is considered the first example of an adaptive
envelope [Figure 2]. The photosensitive diaphragms between two
layers of glass, mechanically open and close in response to different
levels of sun over the day (Gür, 2007, Loonen et.al., 2013, Kolarevic and
Parlac, 2015). Therefore the light permeability of the facade changes
and indirectly it regulates the solar heat gains related with the thermal
performance of the building.
KfW Westarkade building’s facade is a sawtooth-shaped double-skin
facade with automated blinds and ventilation flaps [Figure 3]. With the
blinds placed inside the two layers of facade, open or close controlled
by a central building management system (bms), according to the level
of sun over the day, glare and solar heat gain are reduced (Kolarevic
and Parlac, 2015, URL-2). Besides, the orientation of the building and
the placement of the flaps allows the cavity to be ventilated by the
pressure of the winds. In winter time flaps are closed, so the still air
inside the cavity acts as a thermal barrier. In summer time the flaps are
opened, so the air could flow through the facade and cools the building.

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 Figure 2. Identification card – C3

Figure 3. Identification card – C4

ThyssenKrupp headquarters [Figure 4] facade consists of feather-like
motorized louvered shades made from stainless steel which open or
close, together with or independent from each other, depending on the
movement of the sun over the day (Loonen et.al., 2013, Kolarevic and
Parlac, 2015, URL-2). The regulation of light entering the interior space
modulating daylight and prevents unwanted solar heat gains.
The Council House 2 (CH2) building [Figure 5] has an external shading
system that consists of central pivoting timber shutters that are moved
by a computer-controlled hydraulic system (Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015,
URL-1, URL-2). The shutters are fully open in the morning and then
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slowly close up as the sun moves overhead to the west and reducing
the amount of light and solar radiation entering the building.

Figure 4. Identification card – C5

Figure 5. Identification card – C2

Showroom Kiefer Technic building’s entire facade is consist of
prefabricated insulated panels, supported by aluminums posts and
transoms [Figure 6]. Panels are continuously open or close according to
the levels of sun over the day. The operation of the system is left to the
users of the building. (Loonen, 2010, URL-1, URL-2). Besides light
control, with its insulated panels, when the system is closed, it prevents
heat loses of the building.
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 Figure 6. Identification card – D5
Al Bahar Office towers have parametric triangular umbrellas organized
into hexagonal units, attached to a glass facade, changes their form
origami-like folding controlled by the buildings central management
system (bms) [Figure 7]. They are translucent elements which do not
block the views from inside but minimizes the light transmittance and
solar heat gain (Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015, URL-1, URL-2). Therefore
reduces the cooling loads of an office building in a hot desert climate.

Figure 7. Identification card – B1

Conservatory building in Gardens by the Bay Singapore, has a
curvilinear shaped double-glazed roof with an external shading system

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that is composed of triangle-shaped fabric shades which fully extended
or rolled up depending on the level of sun [Figure 8]. Sensors inside
monitor the light levels, when it reaches a certain point the shades are
opened (Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015, URL-2).

Figure 8. Identification card – A

Figure 9. Identification card – C1

Media-TIC building is a cube composed of four different facades, made
of different ETFE air cushions [Figure 9]. First one referred as the
diaphragm configuration, is used at south-east facade of the building
to create a shade and to provide thermal insulation. Each controlled
separately, with individual sensors measuring heat, temperature, the
angle of the sun. Second one is the lenticular solution, used at the

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south-west facade, transforms from transparent to translucent to
prevent solar radiation (Dent and Sherr, 2014, Loonen et.al., 2013,
Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015, URL-2).
Alterswohnen Domat Ems, has thermodynamic glazing consisting of a
phase-change material at its sought facade (Figure 10). The glazing is
called GlassX which allows visible lights transmittance while absorbing
infrared radiation (Dent and Sherr, 2014). In a daily cycle, the phase
changing material absorbs heat, changes phase from solid to liquid, and
then giving the heat back when the temperature drops, changes phase
from liquid to solid.

Figure 10. Identification card – D6

Figure 11. Identification card – D3

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The BIQ House is an application of a photo-bio-reactive facade
prototype called SolarLeaf (Figure 11). The facade generates biomass
and heat as renewable energy resources by its layer of microalgae
between two sheets of glass. In a closed loop system panels are stored
and then fermented to generate hot water (Kolarevic and Parlac, 2015).

4. Results & Discussion

This paper gathers different adaptive facade examples and presents a
systematic way for their classification and analysis. As a sum up, 7 out
of 10 examples, adaptable component is placed outside and other 3 is
integrated with the core of the facade. 8 out of 10 examples are
showing macro scale adaptation with extrinsic control and 6 of them
having mechanical type of actuation. Media-TIC building, is one of the
few examples with a pneumatic cladding, having adaptability at both
thermal and light related performances. With micro level adaptation,
The BIQ House and Alterswohnen Domat Ems are showing adaptability
only related with thermal performance. Other explored facades have
movable shading elements, showing adaptability related with light and
indirectly with thermal performances.
If having adaptive properties related with all of the referred facade
performances is assumed to be the maximum adaptability level, from
the chosen examples, KfW Westarkade building’s facade could be
evaluated as the one showing the highest adaptability, having adaptive
properties related with both light, air and indirectly with thermal
performances. According to the examined buildings, it could be said
that the common tendency is to add some exterior shading systems
attached to the buildings glazed facade. This approach significantly
reduces the light transmission of the facade and prevent unwanted
solar gains, therefore reducing the cooling loads in a hot climate.
However, when all the performances of the building are considered,
especially in temperate and cold climates, the adaptability of such a
system is limited.

5. Conclusion
Sustainability of the build environment requires the design of self-
sufficient, zero energy buildings. Building envelope has to face with
constantly changing climatic conditions, yet maintain the required
comfort conditions of the indoor environment. There emerges the
necessity of designing adaptable building facades. There are several
different adaptive facade examples around the world and more are in
the development process. The more the facade is showing adaptability
to its hostile environment, the more it is considered to be adaptable. In
order to achieve the maximum adaptability level in the facade, the
integration of different approaches, systems and disciplines has to
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come together. Design of an adaptive facade is a process not only in
the scale of element, but also in relation with the material as the
smallest scale and the building as the largest. This study tries to
presents a holistic approach that considers the system properties,
climatic factors and facades performances, towards forming a
framework for the design and evaluation of an adaptive facade.

Acknowledgement
The study presented in this paper was carried out within the doctoral
course “Performance of Building Elements under Environmental
Effects”, instructed by Prof. Dr. Hülya Kuş, in the 2016-2017 fall
semester, under the Construction Sciences Program, Istanbul Technical
University.

References
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Aelenei, D. Aelenei, L. and Vieira, C. P. 2016. Adaptive Facade:
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Dent, A. H. Sherr, L. 2014. Material Innovation: Architecture. Thames
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Gür, N. V. 2007. A design support tool for variable building skins in the
scope of sustainable architecture. MSc. Thesis. Istanbul
Technical University, Construction Sciences Program.
Herzog, T. Krippner, R. Lang, W. 2004. Facade Construction Manual.
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Kolarevic, B. Parlac, V. 2015. Building Dynamics: Exploring
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