BALANCING BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A HYBRID DESIGN APPROACH

2.4. Double Skin Façade

Double skin façade was aim to counter all the challenges designers were facing for
construction and designing. The designed was mainly focused on environmental impact of
building and satisfactory environment to the occupants. This system integrated both passive
and active strategies with the approach to safe user and surrounding environment (A. Kilaire,
2017).

Generally, double skin façade meant by two layer

of façade skin with ventilation cavity in between. It
has maintained air route in a diagonal direction,
known as cascade type. This air route continues
due to passive design. Sometimes this design
leads to overheating, thus an active system is
required; active beam. Active beams are
embedded to avid over heating due to stack effect
caused by natural ventilation system.
Prefabricated active system provides desired
heating, cooling and fresh air at the winter and Figure 2-22 Cascade type working principle
summer peaks, with extreme temperature. Source: (A. Kilaire, 2017)

Hot air
from room
and cavity
Exhaust hot air
exhaust

Low level
of cool air
Cool fresh
air enters

Figure 2-23 Inlet and Outlet bay of double skin facade

Source: (A. Kilaire, 2017)

To keep the hotter air away from the internal glazing,the blinds can be located closer to the
external skin. To provide cool outside air instead of heated cavity air from entering the room,
openings in the inner skin need to maintain the horizontal temperature distribution. It should
also maintain the vertical temperature stratification. Cool outside air can therefore be provided
via the cavity intothe room as long as the air temperature distribution is sufficiently maintained.

GROUP-5 21